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AMEEICAN 

IMEDICAL  BOTANY, 


BEING  A  COLLECTION 


NATIVE  MEDICINAL  PLANTS 

OF  THE 

UNITED  STATES, 

CONTAINUre  THEIR 

BOTANICAL  HISTORY  AND  CHEMICAL  ANALYSIS, 

AND  PROPERTIES  AND  USES 

IN 

MEDICINE,  DIET  AND  THE  ARTS, 

WITH 

COLOURED  ENGRAVINGS. 

BY  JACOB  BIGELOW,  M.  D. 

RUMTORD  PROFESSOR  AXn  LECTURER  ON  MATERIA  MEDICA  AND  BOTAITY 
IN  HARVARD  UNIVEHSITr. 

VOL.  I. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED  BY  CUMMINGS  A\D  HILLIARD,  AT  THE 
BOSTON   BOOKSTORE,  NO.  1,  CORNHILL. 

UNIYEUSITY  PRESS....niLtIAnD  AND  METCALF, 

1817. 


District  of  Massachusetts,  to  wit: 

District  Clerk's  office. 

IsE  It  remembered,  that  on  the  eighteenth  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1817, 
and  in  the  forty  second  year  of  the  independence  of  the  United  States  of  Ameri- 
ca, Jacob  Bigelow,  M.  D.  of  the  said  district,  has  deposited  in  this  office  the 
title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as  author,  in  the  words  follow- 
ing-, VIZ. 

"  American  Medical  Botany,  being  a  collection  of  the  native  medicinal 
plants  of  the  United  States  containing  their  botanical  history  and  chemical 
analysis,  and  properties  and  uses  in  medicine,  diet  and  the  arts,  with  coloured 
engravings.  By  Jacob  Eigelow,  M.  D.  Rumford  Professor  and  Lecturer  on 
Materia  Medica  and  Botany  in  Hai'vard  University.     Vol.  I." 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled 
"An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps, 
charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the 
times  therein  mentioned  ;"  and  also  to  an  act,  entitled,  "  An  act  supplemen- 
tary to  an  act,  entitled,  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  secur- 
ing the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of 
such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned,  and  extending  the  benefits 
thereof  to  the  arts  of  designmg,  engraving,  and  etchuig  historical  and  other 
prints." 

JNO.  W.  DAVIS,  Clerk  of  tlie  district  of  Massachusetts. 


TO  THE 

REV.  JOHN  THORNTON  KIRKLAND, 

D.D.    LL.  D. 

PRESIDENT  OF  HARVARD  UNIVERSITY  IN  CAMBRIDGE, 
MASSACHUSETTS. 

DEAR  SIR, 

The  present  flourishing  state  of  the  Institution,  over 
which  you  preside,  cannot  be  ascribed  to  any  more  effi- 
cient cause,  than  to  the  zeal  and  ability,  with  which  you 
have  watched  over  its  interests. 

Those,  who  in  any  measure  derive  from  this  Institution 
their  opportunities  of  being  useful,  may  with  justice  direct 
their  first  acknowledgments  to  you. 

Being  confident,  that  no  attempt  for  the  promotion  of 
useful  knowledge  will  be  regarded  by  you  with  indiffer- 
ence, I  am  happy  in  ofiering  to  you,  in  the  present  vol- 
ume, a  testimony  of  my  respect  and  esteem. 

J.  B. 

Boston f  Octolerf  1817. 


PREFACE. 

Having  long  meditated  the  commencement 
of  a  work  on  the  medicinal  vegetables  of  the 
United  States,  and  feeling*  myself  obligated  for  its 
completion,  by  the  instructions  from  the  Univer- 
sity in  which  I  have  the  honor  to  hold  a  professor- 
ship ;  it  may  be  proper  to  make  at  the  outset  some 
general  statements  of  the  motives  and  objects  of 
such  a  publication. 

The  Materia  Medica,  comprising  the  great 
body  of  medicinal  agents  now  in  use  in  the  hands 
of  physicians,  cannot  be  said  to  need  an  increase 
in  the  number  of  its  articles.  It  is  already  in- 
cumbered with  many  superfluous  drugs  ;  even  its 
active  substances  are  more  numerous  than  can  be 
of  use  to  any  one  physician,  so  that  it  seems  quite 
as  susceptible  of  benefit  from  reduction  as  from 
augmentation  in  the  number  of  its  materials. 
Under  these  circumstances,  the  introduction  of 
new   medicines   can   only  be  authorized,  where 


VI  PREFACE. 

from  the  peculiarity  of  their  powers,  or  the  facili- 
ty of  their  acquisition,  they  are  calculated  to  take 
the  place  of  others  previously  in  use. 

Of  our  present  stock  of  medicinal  agents,  col- 
lected from  various  parts  of  the  globe,  a  few  ap- 
pear to  he  unique  in  their  powers,  and  could  not 
in  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge,  he  super- 
seded hy  other  suhstances.  A  number  more  pos- 
sess active  properties,  yet  of  a  kind,  for  which  sub- 
stitutes might  be  found  among  the  native  produc- 
tions of  almost  every  country  into  which  they  are 
imported.  There  are  others  which  possess  little 
activity  or  value,  but  which,  from  a  sort  of  fashion, 
are  still  articles  of  commerce  and  consumption. 

In  the  management  of  diseases,  the  physician 
requires  instruments  of  determinate  power,  on  the 
operation  of  which,  he  may  build  definite  expec- 
tations. Many  such  are  already  in  his  hands. 
Yet  when  we  consider  how  small  a  portion  of  the 
vegetable  kingdom  has  been  medically  examined, 
there  can  be  little  doubt  that  a  vast  number 
of  active  substances,  many  perhaps  of  specific  efii- 
cacy,  remain  for  future  inquirers  to  discover. 
In  this  respect,  every  successive  age  is  making 
acquisitions.  But  a  century  or  two  ago,  the  civ- 
ilized world  were  unacquainted  with  tlie  proper- 
ties of  ipecacuanha,  of  jalap,  and  the  Peruvian 


PREFACE,  VU 

bark.  The  powers  of  digitalis  in  certaia  diseas- 
es are  of  very  recent  observation.  At  the  pres- 
ent day,  we  are  speculating  on  the  probable  com- 
position of  a  vegetable  medicine,  whicli  cures  the 
gout. 

Medicinal  substances  frequently  owe  their  first 
introduction  to  accident.  Many  have  been  at  first 
brought  up  as  antidotes  for  the  poison  of  serpents, 
as  remedies  for  syphilis,  or  as  specifics  against 
imaginary  diseases.  Previously  to  this,  they  were 
neglected  as  useless,  or  avoided  as  dangerous. 
It  is  a  subject  of  some  curiosity  to  consider,  if  the 
knowledge  of  the  present  Materia  Medica  were 
by  any  means  to  be  lost,  how  many  of  the  same 
articles  v/ould  again  rise  into  notice  and  use. 
Doubtless  a  variety  of  new  substances  would  de- 
velop unexpected  powers,  while  perhaps  the  pop- 
py would  he  shunned  as  a  deleterious  plant,  and 
the  cinchona  might  grow  unmolested  upon  the 
mountains  of  Quito. 

It  is  the  policy  of  every  country  to  convert  as 
far  as  possible  its  OAvn  productions  to  use,  as  a 
mean  of  multiplying  its  resources,  and  diminisb- 
ing  its  tribute  to  foreigners.  The  plants  of  the 
United  States  are  various  in  their  character  in 
proprotion  to  the  extent  of  latitudes  and  climates, 
which  our  country  embraces.    Among  those  which 


Viil  PREFACE. 

have  been  medicinally  investigated,  are  many  of 
useful  properties  and  decided  efficacy.  Several  de- 
partments of  the  Materia  Medica  may  he  amply 
supplied  from  our  OAvn  forests  and  meadows,  al- 
though there  are  others,  for  which  we  must  as  yet 
depend  on  foreign  countries.  We  have  yet  to  dis- 
cover our  anodynes  and  our  emetics,  although 
we  abound  in  bitters,  astringents,  aromatics  and 
demulcents.  In  the  present  state  of  our  knowl- 
edge we  could  not  well  dispense  with  opium  and 
ipicacuanha,  yet  a  great  number  of  foreign  drugs, 
such  as  gentian,  columbo,  chamomile,  kino,  cat- 
echu, cascarilla,  canella,  ^'c.  for  whicli  we  pay 
a  large  annual  tax  to  other  countries,  might  in 
all  probability  be  superceded  by  the  indigenous 
products  of  our  own.  It  is  certainly  better  that 
our  own  country  people  should  have  the  benefit 
of  collecting  such  articles,  than  that  we  should 
pay  for  them  to  the  Moors  of  Africa,  or  the  In- 
dians of  Brazil. 

Independent  of  the  frauds  of  adulteration, 
which  may  be  practised  by  savages  upon  drug*, 
whose  origin  is  hardly  known  to  Europeans,  the 
embarrassments  occasioned  by  the  chances  of  war 
and  commercial  restrictions,  form  serious  objec- 
tions to  an  exclusive  dependence  on  foreign  med- 
icines.    It  is  but  a  few  years  since  some  circum- 


PUEFACE.  IX 

stances  of  this  sort  occasioned  a  sudden  and  enor- 
mous rise  in  the  price  of  opium,  and  a  j^eneral  in- 
quiry, what  couhl  be  substituted  for  opium  when 
the  usual  supplies  should  have  failed. 

In  a  work  like  the  present,  although  we  can- 
not hope  to  supply  all  the  desiderata  of  an  indi- 
genous Materia  Medica  ;  yet  it  Avill  be  satisfacto- 
ry to  have  done  something  towards  an  investiga- 
tion of  the  real  properties  of  our  most  interesting 
plants,  and  to  have  facilitated  a  knowledge  of  them 
in  those,  to  wliom  they  may  be  useful.  In  a  pur- 
suit of  this  kind,  the  botanist  has  views  even  be- 
yond the  physician.  To  him  it  is  important  not 
only  to  know  what  plants  have  properties,  that  are 
eminently  useful,  but  also  to  know,  what  are  the 
properties  and  uses  of  all  the  plants  which  sur- 
round him.  In  proportion  as  inquiries  of  this 
sort  are  pursued,  the  natural  resources  of  a  coun- 
try become  developed,  and  its  natural  disadvanta- 
ges compensated.  We  are  told  that  in  China  ev- 
ery plant  is  applied  to  some  valuable  purpose, 
and  there  is  scarcely  a  weed  that  has  not  its  de- 
terminate  use.*  A  learned  authorf  observes,  that 
"  no  writer  whatever  has  rendered  the  natural 
productions  of  the  happiest  and  most  luxuriant 
climate  of  the  globe,  half  so  interesting  or  instruc- 

*  Macartney's  Embassy,  vol.  ii.  chap.  ii.         t  Sir  J,  E.  Smith. 


X  PREFACE. 

tive,  as  Linnaeus  lias  made  those  of  his  own  north- 
ern country," 

Under  the  title  of  American  Medical  Bota- 
ny, it  is  my  intention  to  offer  to  the  public  a  se- 
ries of  coloured  engravings  of  those  native  plants, 
which  possess  properties  deserving  the  attention 
of  medical  practitioners.  The  plan  will  likewise 
include  vegetables  of  particular  utility  in  diet  and 
the  arts  ;  also  poisonous  plants  which  must  be 
known,  that  they  may  be  avoided.  In  making  the 
selection,  I  have  endeavoured  to  be  guided  by 
positive  evidence  of  important  qualities,  and  not 
by  the  insufficient  testimony  of  popular  report. 
In  treating  of  each  plant,  its  botanical  liistory  will 
be  given  ;  the  result  of  such  chemical  examina- 
tions as  I  have  been  able  to  make  of  its  constitu- 
ent parts,  and  lastly  its  medical  history.  The 
botanical  account  will  be  found  more  diffuse  than 
is  necessary  for  exclusive  botanists.  The  chem- 
ical inquiries  are  made  chiefly  with  a  view  to  the 
pharmaceutical  preparations  of  each  plant,  or  to 
interesting  principles  it  may  contain.  Its  medic- 
al history  will  contain  such  facts,  relative  to  its 
operation  on  the  human  system,  as  are  known  to 
me  from  my  own  observation,  or  the  evidence  of 
those,  who  are  qualified  to  form  correct  opinions 
on  the  subject. 


PREFACE.  XI 

I  am  by  no  means  ambitious  to  excite  an  in- 
terest in  the  subjects  of  this  work,  by  exaggerated 
accounts  of  virtues  which  do  not  belong  to  them. 
Much  harm  has  been  in  medicine,  by  the  partial 
representations  of  those,  who,  having  a  point  to 
prove,  have  suppressed  tlieir  unsuccessful  experi- 
ments, and  brought  into  view  none  but  favorable 
facts.  If,  from  a  desire  of  avoiding  error,  I  have 
not  always  been  able  to  establish  fully  the  charac- 
ter of  a  native  vegetable,  it  will  be  recollected 
that  many  foreign  drugs,  which  have  been  for 
centuries  in  use,  have  still  an  unsettled  reputation 
as  to  their  powers  and  modes  of  operating. 

The  figures  of  the  present  volume  have  been 
engraved  and  coloured  from  original  drawings, 
made  principally  by  myself.  Dissections  of  the 
flower  and  fruit  have  been  added  to  each  for  the 
use  of  botanical  students.  The  subsequent  por- 
tions of  the  work  will  be  issued  as  rapidly  asis 
consistent  with  their  faithful  execution. 

At  the  end  will  be  added  an  appendix  or  sup- 
plement, containing  such  facts  relative  to  the 
plants  already  published,  as  may  have  come  to 
light  since  their  publication. 


fl.l . 


Fui.m. 


— /  e^/Z/ft 


if////r/^f^////?     yj. 


AMERICAN 


MEDICAL  BOTANY. 


DATURA  STRA3I0NIUM. 

Thorn  Jlpple, 

TLATE  I. 

A  HE  Datura  Stramonium  is  a  wandering  an- 
nual plant,  whicli  follows  the  progress  of  culti- 
vation, and  is  rarely  found  remote  from  the  vi- 
cinity of  dwellings.  It  occurs  in  every  part  of 
the  Atlantic  coast  from  Maine  to  the  Floridas, 
and  is  also  found  in  the  Western  States  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  settlements.  Its  favorite  haunts 
are  the  borders  of  fields  and  roadsides,  among 
rubbish  and  in  neglected  spots  of  rich  ground. 
It  emigrates  with  great  facility,  and  often  springs 
up  in  the  ballast  of  ships,  and  in  earth  carried 
from  one  country  to  another.  This  circumstance 
in  Europe  has  undeservedly  given  rise  to  the 
opinion,  that  it  is  originally  an  American  plant. 
Its  native  country,  however,  is  doubtful,  from 
3 


18  DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

tlie  want  of  authentic  descriptions  of  suflicient 
antiquity.  One  of  the  oldest  satisfactory  accounts 
of  it  is  that  of  Gerarde  in  1597,  who  has  published 
a  description  and  figure  of  this  plant,  and  states 
that  it  was  introduced  into  England  by  himself, 
from  seeds  received fromConstantinople.  [JVofe  A.] 
*  Its  common  name  in  Europe,  derived  from 
the  form  of  its  fruit,  is  Thorn  apple.  In  this 
country  its  provincial  names  are  Apple  of  Peru,  Le- 
tWs  apple,  and  Jamestown  weed.  It  is  a  plant  of 
i;ank  growth  and  luxuriant  foliage,  varying  in  height 
from  one  to  six  feet,  according  to  the  soil  in  which 
it  grows.  In  Carolina  it  begins  to  flower  in  May, 
and  in  Massachusetts  about  the  latter  part  of  Ju- 
ly, and  continues  until  tlie  arrival  of  frosts. 

The  Datura  Stramonium  belongs  to  the  first 
order  of  the  fifth  class  in  the  Linnseau  artificial 
arrangement.  In  its  natural  order  it  is  found 
among  the  Luridse  of  Linnjeus  and  the  Solanese 
of  Jussieu.  The  following  are  the  essential 
juarks  which  characterize  the  genus  Datura.  The 
corolla  funnel  form  and  plaited.  The  calya;  tu- 
bular, angular  and  deciduous.  The  capsule  four 
valved. — ^Under  this  genus  are  comprehended  a 
number  of  species,  a  great  part  of  which  are  na- 
tives of  warm  latitudes.  The  species  Stramoni- 
um is  distinguished  from  the  rest  by  the  follow- 


THORN  APPLE.  19 

ing  character.  Capsules  thorny,  erect,  ovate;  leaves 
ovate,  angular,  smooth. — A  more  particular  de- 
scription of  tlie  plant  is  as  follows.     >Stem  erect, 
simple  at  bottom,  much  branched  at  top  by  repeat- 
ed forks,  smooth  or  slightly  pubescent,  hollow  in 
the  large  plants,  often  solid  in  small  ones.   Leaves 
given  off  from  the  forks  of  tlie  stem,  five  or  six 
inches  long,  acute,  irregularly  sinuated  and  tooth- 
ed, with  large  acute  teeth  and  round  sinuses,  the 
sides  of  the  base  extending  unequally  down  the 
petiole.     Flowers  single,  axillary,  on  short  stalky, 
erect  or  nodding.     Galyx  composed   of  one  leaf, 
tubular,  with  five  angles  and  five  teeth,  deciduous 
by  breaking  off  from  its  base.    Corolla  funnel 
shaped  with   a  long  tube,  five  angled,  its  margin 
waved  and  folded,  and  terminating  in  five  acumi- 
nate teeth.    Stamens  growing  to  the  tube  by  their 
fdaraents,  with  oblong  erect  anthers.     Germ  su- 
perior, hairy  with  the  rudiments  of  spines,  ovate  ; 
style   as   long   as   the  stamens ;    stigma   obtuse, 
parted  at  base.     Capsule  ovate,  fleshy,  covered 
with  thorns,  four  valved,  four  celled,  opening  at 
top.     Seeds  numerous,  reniform,  black,  attached 
to  a  longitudinal  receptacle,  which  occupies  the 
centre  of  each  cell. 

At  least  two  distinct  varieties  of  Datura  Stra- 
monium are  common  in  the  United  States.     One 


20  DATURA  STRAMONIUiAf. 

of  these  has  a  green  stalk  and  white  flowers,  and 
agrees  with  the  figures  of  Sowerbj  and  Woodville, 
except  that  the  anthers  are  somewhat  longer  and 
tlie  dissepiment  of  the  capsule  thinner.  The  sec- 
ond variety,  the  one  represented  in  our  figure, 
has  a  dark  reddish  stem,  minutely  dotted  with 
green  ;  and  purple  flowers  striped  with  deep  pur- 
ple inside.  It  is  generally  a  larger  plant,  and  its 
stem  more  universally  hollow.  This  variety  is 
probably  the  1).  tatula  of  Linnaeus,  answering  to 
the  (cscription  in  the  Species  plantarum.  The 
distinguishing  marks  laid  down  between  the  two 
plants  are  not  sufiicient  to  make  them  distinct 
species.  I  have  cultivated  both  together  and 
watched  them  throughout  their  growth,  without 
being  able  to  detect  any  difference  except  in  col- 
our. Their  sensible  and  medical  properties  are 
the  same.  Sir  James  Edward  Smith  has  lately 
informed  me,  that  on  consulting  the  herbarium  of 
Linnseus,  the  original  specimens  of  D.  Stramoni- 
um and  tatula  did  not  appear  to  be  more  than  va- 
rieties of  the  same  plant.     \^ote  B.] 

Every  part  of  the  Stramonium,  when  recent, 
has  a  strong,  heavy,  disagreeable  odour,  and  a 
bitter,  nauseous  taste.  Taken  internally  it  proves 
a  violent  narcotic  poison,  affecting  the  mind  and 
body  in  the  most  powerful  manner.     Its  usual 


THORN  APPLE.  SI 

consequences  when  swallowed  in  considerable 
quantity,  are  vertigo  and  confusion  of  mind,  in- 
sensibility of  the  retina,  occasioning  dilatation  of 
the  pupil  and  loss  of  sigbt,  tremors  of  the  limbs 
and  loss  of  the  power  of  voluntary  motion,  head- 
ach,  dryness  of  the  throat,  nausea  and  vomiting, 
anxiety  and  faintness,  and  sometimes  furious  de- 
lirium. If  the  amount  taken  be  large  and  not 
speedily  ejected  from  the  stomach,  the  symptoms 
pass  into  convulsions  or  lethargic  stupor,  which 
continue  till  death.  When  not  fatal,  its  effects, 
like  those  of  other  narcotics,  are  temporary,  dis- 
appearing in  from  one  to  two  days,  and  frequent- 
ly in  a  shorter  period. — The  remedies  to  be  re- 
sorted to  in  cases  of  poison  from  Stramonium,  are 
a  prompt  emetic,  followed  by  a  free  use  of  vegeta- 
ble acids  and  strong  coffee. 

Many  stories  have  been  related  of  the  power 
of  this  and  other  species  of  Datura  to  produce 
mental  alienation,  without  at  the  same  time  ma- 
terially affecting  the  body.  [JS'ote  C]  These  ac- 
counts are  generally  of  somewhat  ancient  date,  and 
not  correspondent  with  the  observations  of  later 
physicians.  They  were  suited  to  those  days  of 
credulity,  in  which  the  Eoyal  Society  of  London 
gravely  inquired  of  Sir  Philberto  Yernatti,  "Wheth- 
er the  Indians   can  ^  so  prepare    the   stupifving 


■2'^  DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

herb  Datura,  that  they  make  it  lie  several  days, 
months,  or  years,  according  as  they  will  have  it. 
in  a  man's  body ;  and  at  the  end  kill  him  with- 
out missing  half  an  hour's  time  ?" 

Like  opium  and  like  other  powerful  medi- 
cines, this  plant,  when  taken  in   small  quantity, 
and  under  suitable  regulations,  proves  a  remedy 
of  importance,  and  a  useful  agent  in  the  hands  of 
physicians.     In  common  with  some  other  narco- 
tics, it  seems  first  to  have  been  introduced  freely 
into  practice  by  Baron  Storck  of  Vienna,  as  a  rem- 
edy in  Mania,  Epilepsy,  Convulsions,  ^c.     Many 
subsequent  physicians  have  given  testimony  to  its 
efficacy  in  certain  forms  of  these  disorders,  yet  the 
instances  of  its  failure  have  doubtless  been  more 
frequent  than  those  of  its  success.     In  Murray's 
Apparatus  Medicaminum  may  be  found  a  sum- 
mary of  the  reports  of  many  medical  men,  Avho 
have  tried  it  with  various  success  in  the  diseases 
in  question,  as  well  as  in  others.     Dr.  Cullen  has 
no  doubt  that  it  may  be  a  remedy  in  certain  ca- 
ses of  mania  and  epilepsy  ;  but  doubts  if  any  per- 
son has  learned  to  distinguish  the  cases  to  which 
it  is  properly  adapted. 

Dr.  Fisher,  President  of  the  Massachusetts 
Medical  Society,  has  published  in  their  communi- 
cations some  remarks  on  the  employment  of  Stra- 


THORN  APPLE.  23 

iiioiiium  in  epilepsy.  He  divides  the  cases  of 
that  disease  into  tliree  kinds  ;  those  of  which  the 
fits  return  daily ;  those  in  wMch  they  recur  at 
regular  periods,  as  monthly,  or  give  warning  of 
tlieir  approacli  by  previous  symptoms  ;  lastly, 
those  in  which  they  do  not  observe  any  regular 
period,  and  do  not  give  any  warning  of  their  ap- 
proach. In  the  two  first  kinds  he  asserts,  that  all 
the  cases  which  came  under  his  care,  and  which 
were  not  very  few,  had  been  cured  by  Stramoni- 
um. In  those  of  the  third  kind  he  found  it  of  no 
benefit  whatever. 

Dr.  Archer  of  Maryland  has  formed  distinc- 
tions nearly  similar  in  the  application  of  Stramo- 
nium to  epilepsy. 

In  a  case  of  Tic  doloureux  of  long  standing  I 
found  the  extract,  taken  in  as  large  doses  as  the 
stomach  w  ould  bear,  to  afford  decided  relief.  Sev- 
eral practitioners  have  spoken  to  me  of  its  effica- 
cy in  this  formidable  disease.  It  should  be  ta- 
ken in  large  doses,  and  the  system  kept  for  some 
time  under  its  influence. 

Within  a  few  years,  the  thorn  apple  has  at- 
tracted much  notice,  both  in  Europe  and  in  this 
counti*y,  as  an  efficacious  palliative  in  Astlima 
and  some  other  affections  of  the  lungs,  when  used 
by  smoking,  in   the   same   manner  as   tobacco. 


S4  I>ATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

The  practice  was  first  suggested  by  the  employ- 
ment of  another  species,  the  Batur^a  feroa^,  for 
similar  complaints,  in  the  East  Indies,  An  En- 
gUsh  gentleman,  having  exhausted  the  stock  with 
which  he  had  been  supplied  of  the  oriental  plant, 
was  advised  by  Dr.  Sims  to  have  recourse  to  the 
common  Stramonium  as  a  substitute  ;  and  upon 
trial,  experienced  the  same  benefit  as  he  had  done 
from  the  former  species.  This  instance  of  suc- 
cess led  to  further  trials,  and  in  a  short  time  sev- 
eral publications  appeared,  containing  cases  of 
great  relief  afforded  by  smoking  this  plant  in  the 
paroxysms  of  Asthma.  Many  individuals,  of  dif- 
ferent ages,  habits,  and  constitutions,  had  used  it 
with  the  effect  of  producing  immediate  relief,  and 
of  terminating  the  paroxysm  in  a  short  time. 
The  efiicacy  however  of  this  medicine  was  called 
in  question  by  Dr.  Bree,  a  physician  well  known 
by  his  elaborate  treatise  on  Asthma,  who  publish- 
ed in  the  Medical  and  Physical  Journal  a  letter, 
containing  the  result  of  a  great  number  of  unsuc- 
cessful trials  of  Stramonium  in  asthmatic  cases. 
It  may  be  doubted  whether  any  other  physician 
has  been  so  unfortunate  in  its  use  as  Dr.  Bree, 
since  he  affirms  that  not  one  case  of  those  imder 
his  care  was  benefitted  by  it.  Certain  it  is,  that  in 
this   country  the  thorn  apple  is  employed  with 


THORN  APPLE.  35 

very  frequent  success  by  asthmatic  patients,  and 
it  would  not  be  difficult  to  designate  a  dozen  indi- 
viduals in  Boston  and  its  vicinity,  who  are  in  the 
habit  of  employing  it  with  unfailing  relief  in  the 
paroxysms  of  this  distressing  complaint.     The  ca- 
ses, which  it  is  fitted  to  relieve,  are  those  of  pure 
spasmodic  asthma,  in  which  it  doubtless  acts  by 
its  sedative  and  antispasmodic  effects.     In  those 
depending  upon  effusion  of  serum  in  the  lungs, 
or  upon  the  presence   of  exciting  causes  in  the 
first   passages,    or    elsewhere,  requiring  to   be 
removed  ;  it  must  not  be  expected  that  remedies 
of  this  class  can  afford  benefit.     In  several  cases 
of   plethoric   and    intemperate   people,    I   have 
found  it   fail  altogether,  and  venesection  after- 
wards to  give  speedy  relief. 

The  part  of  the  plant,  which  I  have  employed 
for  smoking,  is  the  leaf  prepared  in  the  same  way 
as  tobacco.  The  root,  which  has  commonly  been 
the  part  used,  is  more  woody  and  fibrous,  and  pos- 
sesses less  of  the  juices  of  the  plant,  than  its 
more  pulpy  and  succulent  parts.  The  root  also, 
being  strictly  annual,  has  no  opportunity  to  accu- 
mulate the  virtues  of  the  plant,  beyond  any  other 
part. 

In  the  seventh  volume  of  the  Medico-Chirur- 
gical  Transactions,  for  1816,  is   a  paper  on  the 
4 


36  DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

properties  of  the  Stramonium  by  Dr.  Marcet  of 
London,  Physician  to  Guy's  Hospital.  As  the 
result  of  his  experience,  it  appeared  that  this 
medicine  taken  internally  had  relieved  acute 
pains  of  various  kinds  more  effectually  than  any 
other  narcotic  substance.  Its  usual  effects  under 
his  observation,  when  administered  in  appropriate 
doses,  in  chronic  diseases  attended  with  acute 
pain;  were,  to  lessen  powerfully  and  almost  imme- 
diately sensibility  and  pain  ;  to  occasion  a  sort 
of  nervous  shock,  wliicli  is  frequently  attended 
with  a  momentary  affection  of  the  head  and  eyes, 
with  a  degree  of  nausea,  and  with  phenomena  re- 
sembling those  produced  by  intoxication  ;  to  ex- 
cite in  many  instances  nervous  sensations,  which 
are  referred  to  the  oesophagus  or  bronchia  or  fau- 
ces, and  which  sometimes  amount  to  a  sense  like 
suffocation  ;  to  have  rather  a  relaxing,  than  an 
astringent  effect  on  the  bowels  ;  to  have  no  mark- 
ed influence  on  the  pulse,  except  in  a  few  instan- 
ces to  seem  to  render  it  slower ;  to  produce  but 
a  transitory  and  inconsiderable  dilatation  of  the 
pupil,  and  to  have  but  little  immediate  tendency 
to  produce  sleep,  except  from  the  state  of  com- 
parative serenity  and  ease,  which  follows  the  pre- 
ceding symptoms. — In  some  instances  its  bene- 
ficial effects  were  obtained  without  the  patient 
experiencing  any  of  the  uneasy  sensations  above 
mentioned. 


THORN  APPLE.  ^7 

The  cases  in  which  Dr.  3Iarcet  employed  the 
Stramonium,  with  their  results,  appear  in  the  fol- 
lowing summary.  In  four  cases  of  Sciatica,  decid- 
ed benefit  was  obtained.  The  efficacy  of  the  med^ 
icine  was  still  more  strongly  marked  in  two  cases 
of  sciatica  combined  with  syphilitic  pains.  It 
failed  in  two  instances  of  diseased  hip  joint.  It 
produced  considerable  relief  of  pain  in  a  case  of 
supposed  disease  of  the  spine,  followed  by  para- 
plegia 5  and  likewise  in  one  of  cancer  of  the 
breast.  It  allayed  materially  the  pain  occasioned 
by  an  acute  uterine  disease.  It  was  of  great  and 
repeated  utility  in  a  case  of  Tic  doloureux,  its  util- 
ity in  a  second  case  of  the  same  description  was 
very  doubtful,  and  in  a  third  it  entirely  failed. 

There  are  some  authorities  for  the  success  of 
Stramonium  in  Chorea.  Professor  Chapman  of 
Philadelphia  has  found  it  of  use  in  dysmenorrhea, 
also  with  or  without  mercury  in  syphilitic  and 
scrophulous  ulcers  of  ill  condition. 

The  external  use  of  Stramonium  is  of  much 
older  date  than  its  internal  exhibition.  Gerarde 
in  his  Herbal,  published  in  1597,  says,  "  Tbe 
iuyce  of  Thorne  apples,  boiled  with  hog's  grease 
to  the  forme  of  an  unguent  or  salve,  cureth  all  in- 
flammations whatsoever,  all  manner  of  burnings  or 
scaldings,  and  that  in  very  short  time,  as  my- 


28  DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

self  hare  fouHd  by  my  dayly  practise,  to  my  great 
credit  and  profit."  Others,  since  the  time  of  Gre- 
rarde,  have  used  this  preparation,  if  not  with  the 
same  gratifying  success,  at  least  with  some  bene- 
fit as  an  anodyne,  sedative  application.  It  miti- 
gates the  pain  in  burns  and  inflammatory  tumors, 
and  promotes  the  cure  of  certain  cutaneous  erup- 
tions. In  some  irritable  ulcers  with  thickened 
edges  and  a  sanious  discharge,  I  have  found  it  re- 
markably efficacious  in  changing  the  condition 
and  promoting  tlie  granulations  and  cicatrization. 
In  painful  hemorrhoidal  tumors  tlie  ointment  of 
Stramonium  with  the  ointment  of  acetate  of  lead 
gives,  in  many  cases,  very  prompt  and  satisfacto- 
ry relief,  being  in  this  respect  inferior  to  no  ap- 
plication, witli  which  I  have  been  acquainted. 

Applied  topically  to  the  eye,  the  preparations 
of  Stramonium  diminish  the  sensibility  of  the  re- 
tina, and  relax  the  iris.  From  this  effect  it  is 
employed  by  many  surgeons  to  dilate  the  pupil, 
as  preparatory  to  the  operation  for  cataract. 

The  virtues  of  Stramonium  appear  to  be  seat- 
ed in  an  extractive  principle,  which  dissolves  in 
water  and  alcohol,  but  most  readily  in  the  for- 
mer. It  is  copiously  precipitated  from  the  infu- 
sion by  muriate  of  tin.  With  sulphate  of  iron  it 
gives  a  deep  green  colour,  and  with  gelatin  suf- 


THORN  APPLE.  ^^ 

fers  no  change.  Water  distilled  from  the  plant 
has  the  sensible  qualities  in  a  slight  degree,  but 
does  not  seem  to  possess  the  medicinal  powers  of 
the  plant.  Dr.  S.  Cooper,  in  a  valuable  disserta- 
tion on  this  plant,  says,  that  an  ounce  of  the  dis- 
tilled water  was  taken  into  the  stomach  with  little 
or  no  effect.  The  same  gentleman  states,  that 
upon  evaporating  the  infusion  of  Stramonium,  he 
observed  a  large  number  of  minute  crystals,  re- 
sembling particles  of  nitre.  Thinking  it  possible 
that  these  might  he  something  analogous  to  the 
crystals,  said  to  be  obtained  by  Derosne  from  opi- 
um, and  by  him  denominated  the  narcotic  princi- 
ple, I  repeated  the  experiment  by  carefully  evap- 
orating separate  decoctions  of  the  green  and  dri- 
ed leaves.  No  crystals  however  were  discovera- 
ble at  any  stage  of  the  process,  either  to  the 
touch,  or  to  the  eye  assisted  by  a  strong  magni- 
fier. 

The  forms  in  which  the  Stramonium  is  prepar- 
ed for  use  are  the  powder,  the  inspissated  juice, 
the  extract,  the  tincture  and  the  ointment.  The 
powder  should  be  made  as  soon  as  the  plant  is 
dry,  and  kept  in  close  stopped  bottles.— The  in- 
spissated juice  is  made  by  compressing  the  bruis- 
ed leaves  in  a  strong  bag,  until  the  juice  is  forced 
out.    This  is  to  be  evaporated  in  flat  vessels  at 


80  DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

the  licat  of  boiling  salt  water  to  the  thickness  of 
honej ;  it  is  then  suffered  to  cool,  put  up  in  glaz- 
ed vessels  and  moistened  with  alcohol.  The  ecc- 
tract  is  prepared  by  immersing  a  pound  of  the 
leaves  in  three  gallons  of  water  and  boiling  down 
to  one.  The  decoction  should  then  be  strained 
and  stand  six  hours  to  settle,  after  which  it  may 
be  drawn  off  and  evaporated  to  the  proper  consis- 
tence. When  the  seeds  are  used,  the  decoction 
should  stand  a  longer  time  to  separate  the  oil  with 
which  the  cotyledons  abound,  before  evaporation. 
A  larger  amount  of  extract  may  be  obtained  by 
boiling  the  portion,  which  has  been  used,  a  se- 
cond time  in  a  smaller  quantity  of  water,  and 
mixing  the  two  decoctions  before  evaporation. 
For  the  tincture  one  ounce  of  the  dried  leaves  is 
to  be  digested  for  a  week  in  eight  ounces  of  proof 
spirit,  and  filtrated  through  paper.  In  making 
the  ointment,  a  pound  of  the  fresh  leaves  may  be 
simmered  in  three  pounds  of  hog's  lard  until  the 
leaves  become  crisp.  It  is  then  to  be  strained, 
and  cooled  gradually. 

The  period  for  gathering  the  leaves  is  from 
the  time  the  plant  begins  to  flower,  until  the  ar- 
rival of  frost. 

As  the  preparations  of  Stramonium  are  liable 
to  vary  in  strength  according  to  the  circumstances 


THORN  APPLE.  31 

under  which  they  are  made,  it  is  always  prudent 
to  begin  with  the  smallest  dose,  and  repeat  it 
about  three  times  a  day,  increasing  each  dose  un- 
til the  eiFects  begin  to  appear  in  the  stomach  or 
head. 

The  commencing  doses  of  the  Stramonium, 
when  properly  prepared,  are  as  follows. 
Of  the  powdered  leaves  1  grain, 

powdered  seeds  t  «  grain, 

inspissated  juice  or  extract  1  grain. 
extract  of  the  seeds  from  1  <o  1  grain, 

tincture  from  15  fo  30 

drops. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Datura  Stramonium,  Linn-eus  Sp.  pi.  Fl.  Suec.  185  ^'C— 
Gronovius  Fl.  Virg.  23. — CEder.  Fl.  Danica  436. — Black- 
well  t.  313. — Gmelin  Iter  i.  43. — Pollich.  Palatin.  224. — 
Hoffmann  Germ.  77. — Roth  Fl.  Germ.  i.  92  ^c. — AVoodville 
i.  124. — Curtis  Lond.  vi.  t.  17. — Smith  Fl.  Brit.  254. — Engl. 
Bot.  t.  1288. — PuRSH  Mier.  141. — Elliott  Carol,  i.  275.— 
Stramonium  foliis  angulosis  6cc.  Haller  Helv.  586.  Nucimetel- 
\sd  congener  planta,  Camerarius  Epitome  276. — Solanum  fueti- 
dapomo  spinoso,  oblongoj^c.  Bauhinjjw.  168. — Stramonium 
spinosum,  Gerarde  Herbal  348. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Storck  de  Stramonio  ^'c. — Lindenstolpe  de  vencnis,  531. — 
Sauvages  J\'"osol.  2.  430. — Greding  in  Liidwlgs  .Mxersaria  i. 
345._MuRRAY  App.  Med.  i.  670.— Cullen  Jf/af.  Med.  ii.  281.— 
Fowler  in  Med.  Comment,  v.  161. — Odiielius  cit.  in  Med.  Com- 
ment V.  16L — Papin  in  Fhil.  Trans,  abr.  vi.  53.— Rush  in  Thilad. 


Sa  DATURA  STRA»IONIUai. 

Trans,  i.  S84. — Schoepf.  24. — Wedenberg  in  Med,  Comment 
iii.  18. — Beverly,  Hist.  Virg.  p.  121. — Medical  and  Physical 
Journal,  vol.  xxv.  &  xxvi.  in  various  places.  Cooper  in  CaldweWs 
Theses,  vol.  i. — ^Barton,  Coll.  Mat.  Med.  46. — Chapman  in  edit, 
Murray  146. — Thatcher,  Disp,  205. — Marcet  Medico-Chi- 
rur.  Trans,  vii. 


PLATE  I. 

Fig.  1.  d  branch  of  Datura  Stramonium^  the  purple  vanely,  with 
leaves  and  Jlowers, 

Fig.  2.  Stamens  and  style. 

Fig.  3.  Transverse  section  of  the  pericarpt  shewing  the  cellSf  re- 
ceptacles  and  seeds. 


ri  II 


C^/A  a/r-/y'f/M         A,- r/r/o7 ////// 


EUPATOMUM  PERFOLIATUM. 


Thorough  wort 


PLJiTE  11. 

X  HE  peculiar  form  and  arrangement  of  the 
leaves  in  this  plant  render  it  very  easy  of  distinc- 
tion at  sight  by  the  most  inexperienced  botanist. 
It  flowers  from  midsummer  to  September,  and  is 
found  in  all  latitudes  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Florida. 
It  inhabits  meadows  and  boggy  soils,  growing 
most  frequently  in  bunches,  tlie  stems  being  con- 
nected by  horizontal  roots.  Its  common  names 
are  Thorough  wort,  Thorough  wacc,  Cross  ivort, 
Bone  set,  ^c. 

The  genus  Eupatorium,  belonging  to  the  first 
order  of  the  class  Syngenesia  or  Compound  flow- 
ers, and  to  the  order  Corymbiferje  of  Jussieu,  is 
characterized  b}^  its  naked  receptacle,  its  down 
simple  or  rough,  its  calyoj  oblong  and  imbricate, 
5 


34  EUPATORUM  PERPOLIATUM. 

its  style  longer  than  the  corolla,  and  cloven  half 
way  down.  The  species  perfoliatiiin,  exclusively 
an  inhabitant  of  America,  is  abundantly  distin- 
guished from  the  rest,  by  the  peculiar  form  of  its 
leaves,  indicated  in  its  name.  Michaux  has  alter- 
ed the  specific  name  to  connatum  I  think  injudi- 
ciously. 

The  stems  of  this  plant  are  erect,  round,  hairy 
branched  at  top  only.  Tlie  leaves,  which  are  per- 
forated by  the  stem,  are  rather  perfoliate  than 
connate,  since  they  have  not  the  character  of  two 
leaves  joined  together,  but  of  one  entire  leaf,  hav- 
ing its  four  principal  veins  proceeding  at  right  an- 
gles from  the  four  quarters  of  the  stem,  two  of 
them  being  situated  in  the  place  of  the  supposed 
junction.  The  upper  leaves  however  are  gener- 
ally divided  into  pairs.  Tlie  main  leaves  are 
acuminate,  decreasing  gradually  in  breadth  from 
the  stem,  where  they  are  widest,  to  the  extremities. 
They  are  serrated,  wrinkled,  pale  underneath,  and 
hairy,  especially  on  the  veins.  Flowers  in  corymbs 
with  hairy  peduncles.  Calyx  cylindrical,  imbri- 
cate, the  scales  lanceolate,  acute,  hairy.  Each  ca- 
lyx contains  about  twelve  or  fifteen  florets,  which 
are  tubular,  with  fine  spreading  segments,  and  sur- 
rounded with  a  )'ough  down.  The  stamens  in  each 
consist  of  five  soft  filaments,  with  blackish  anthers 


THOROUGH  WORT.  35 

uuited  with  a  tube.  Style  filiform,  divided  into 
two  branches,  which  project  above  the  flower. 
Seeds  oblong  on  a  naked  receptacle. 

Every  part  of  the  Eupatoriuni  has  an  intense- 
ly bitter  taste,  combined  with  a  flavour  peculiar  to 
the  plant,  but  without  astringency  or  acrimony. 
The  leaves  and  flowers  abound  in  a  bitter  extrac- 
tive matter,  in  which  the  important  qualities  of 
the  plant  seem  to  reside.  I  fuid  this  principle  to 
be  alike  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol,  imparting  its 
sensible  qualities  to  both,  and  neither  solution  be- 
ing rendered  turbid,  at  least  for  some  time,  by  the 
addition  of  the  other  solvent.  It  forms  copious  pre- 
cipitates with  many  of  the  metallic  salts,  such  as  mu- 
riate of  tin,  nitrate  of  mercury,  nitrate  of  silver,  and 
acetate  of  lead.  Of  the  mineral  acids,  the  sulphu- 
ric and  muriatic  form  slight  precipitates  with  the 
aqueous  decoction ;  the  oxymuriatic,  a  more  copi- 
ous one  ;  the  nitric,  in  my  experiments,  gave  no 
precipitate,  but  changed  the  colour  to  a  red.  In 
the  alcoholic  solution  the  oxymuriatic  alone  form- 
ed an  immediate  precipitate.  Tannin  exists  very 
sparingly  in  this  plant.  A  solution  of  isinglass 
produced  a  slight  precipitate  from  the  tincture, 
and  a  hardly  perceptible  turbidness  in  separate 
decoctions  of  the  leaves  and  flowers.  Sulphate 
of  iron  gave  a  dark  green  precipitate,  which  par- 


30  EUPATORIUM  PERFOLIATUM. 

tially  subsided  in  a  short  time. — In  distillation, 
water  came  over  very  slightly  affected  with  the 
sensible  qualities  of  the  plant,  and  not  alterable 
by  sulphate  of  iron. 

A  dissertation  of  merit  on  this  plant  was  pub- 
lished a  few  years  since  by  Dr.  Anderson  of  New 
York,  in  wbich  he  gives  the  details  of  numerous 
and  elaborate  chemical  trials,  made  by  him  on  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  plant.     He  concludes,  among 
other  things,  from  his  experiments,  that  the  ac- 
tive  properties   of  the  plant   reside   in  greatest 
q^iantity  in  the  leaves,   and  that  its  virtues  are 
readily  obtained  by  means  of  a  simple  decoction. 
The  medical  powers  of  Eupatorium  are  such 
as  its  sensible  properties  would  seem  to  indicate, 
those  of  a  tonic  stimulant.      Given  in  moderate 
quantities,  either  in  substance  or  in  cold  infusion 
or  decoction,  it  promotes  digestion,  strengthens^ 
the  viscera,  and  restores  tone  to  the  system.    Like 
other  vegetable  bitters,  if  given  in  large  quantities, 
especially    in     warm   infusion    or   decoction,    it 
proves  emetic,  sudorific,  and  aperient.     Even  in 
cold  infusion  it  tends  to  bring  on  diaphoresis. 

This  plant  has  been  long  in  use  in  different 
parts  of  tbe  United  States,  for  the  same  purposes 
for  which  the  Peruvian  bark.  Gentian,  Chamomile, 
^'c.  are  employed.    It  has  been  found  competent 


THOROUGH  WORT.  37 

to  the  cure  of  intermittent  fevers  by  various  prac- 
titioners in  the  middle  and  southern  states.  Dr. 
Anderson  has  detailed  six  cases  of  intermittents, 
quotidian,  tertian,  and  quartan,  out  of  a  large 
number  which  had  been  successfully  treated  with- 
in his  own  observation  by  the  Eupatorium  both 
in  substance  and  decoction.  In  these  cases  the 
cures  were  certainly  expeditious,  and  took  place 
at  as  early  a  period  as  could  have  been  expected 
from  arsenic  or  the  Peruvian  bark.  Dr.  A.  cites 
the  experience  of  several  distinguished  practi- 
tioners, particularly  Dr.  Ilosack  of  New  York 
and  the  late  Dr.  Barton  of  Philadelphia,  in  con- 
firmation of  his  own,  to  shew  that  the  Eupatorium 
is  an  efficacious  remedy  in  the  treatment  of  va- 
rious febrile  disorders,  also  of  many  cutaneous 
affections,  and  diseases  of  general  debility. 

I  have  prescribed  an  infusion  of  the  Eupato- 
rium in  various  instances  to  patients  in  the  low 
stages  of  fever,  where  it  has  appeared  instrumen- 
tal in  supporting  the  strength  and  promoting  a 
moisture  of  the  skin,  without  materially  increas- 
ing the  heat  of  the  body.  I  have  also  foimd  the 
cold  infusion  or  decoction  a  serviceable  tonic  in 
loss  of  appetite  and  other  symptoms  of  dyspepsia, 
as  well  as  in  general  debility  of  the  system. 


38  EUPATORIUM  PERFOLIATUM. 

The  warm  infusion  is  a  convenient  substitute 
for  that  of  chamomile  flowers  in  facilitating  the 
operation  of  an  emetic. 

"When  employed  as  a  tonic,  this  plant  may  be 
taken  in  powder  in  doses  of  twenty  or  thirty 
grains,  or  a  teacup  full  may  be  used  of  the  infu- 
sion, rendered  moderately  bitter.  When  intend- 
ed to  act  as  an  emetic,  a  strong  decoction  may  be 
made  from  an  ounce  of  the  plant  in  a  quart  of 
water,  boiled  to  a  pint. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Eupatoriiim  perfoliatum,  Linn^us,  Sj}.  pi. — Aiton,  Hort 
JCew.  iii.  160. — ^Wixldenow,  Sp.  pi.  iii.  1761. — Gkonovius, 
Virg.  119. — CoLBBHf f  JVovebor.  181. — Stokes,  iv.  171. — Pursh, 
ii.  516. — Eupatoriiim  connatum,  Michaux,  Fl.  .Miner,  ii.  99. — 
Eupatorium  Virginianum,  &c. — Plukenet,  t.  B7.f.  6.. — Raius, 
suppl.  189. — MoRisoN,  hist.  iii.  97. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

•ScHOEPF  121. — Guthrie  in  Annal.  Med.  iii.  403. — Bart. 
Coll.  28. — Med.  and  Phys.  Journal. — Thacher  Disi),  217. — An- 
derson, Inaugural  Thesis, 

PLATE  II. 

Fig.  1.  Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 

Fig.  2.  .4  Jlower  magnified. 

Fig.  S.  A  Jloret  magnified. 

Fig.  4.  Tube  of  anthers  with  the  style  running  through. 


//  w. 


PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA. 


Foke, 


PLATE  III. 

h  ROM  the  testimony  of  different  writers  it 
appears,  that  the  Phytolacca  decandra  is  an  inhab- 
itant not  only  of  North  America,  but  likewise  of 
the  south  of  Europe  from  Portugal  to  Greece,  and 
also  of  the  Barbary  states  in  Africa.  Its  origin 
is  probably  American,  since  I  find  that  it  was  so 
considered  in  the  time  of  Parkinson,  who  in  his 
Theatrum  Botanicum,  published  in  1640,  de- 
nominates it  "  Solanum  magnum  Virginianum  ru- 
brum."  This  is  one  of  the  oldest  accounts  I  find 
of  it.  Plukenet  conjectures  it  may  be  the  Ciiechi- 
liz  tomatl  of  Hernandez,  but  the  description,  like 
most  others  of  that  loose  and  superficial  writer, 
arc  more  promotive  of  obscurity  than  of  knowledge, 
and  it  is  not  easy  to  draw  from  it  any  satisfactory 
evidence  as  to  its  Mexican  origin.  ^Xote  D.] 


40  PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA. 

In  the  autumnal  months  no  plant  among  us  is 
more  remarkable  than  the  Phytolacca  for  its  large 
size,  and  the  fine  colour  of  its  clusters  of  berries. 
Its  most  general  appellation  is  Poke,  an  abbrevia- 
tion, perhaps,  of  Pocan,  the  name  by  which  it  was 
known  in  Virginia  a  century  ago.  In  Xew  Eng- 
land it  is  more  frequently  called  Garget,  Cocum, 
Jalap  and  Pigeon  berries. 

Jussieu  has  arranged  this  genus  among  his 
Jltriplices,  and  Linnaeus  with  the  Oleracew. 

The  number  of  its  stems  and  styles,  place  it  in 
the  class  Becandria  and  order  Decagynia.  Its 
generic  character  consists  in  having  no  calya^,  a 
corolla  of  Jive  petals,  and  its  berries  superior  with 
ten  cells  and  ten  seeds.  The  species  decandra  is 
the  only  one  which  strictly  .agrees  with  its  class 
and  order,  and  is  known  by  having  ovate  leaves, 
acute  at  both  ends,  and  its  flowers  with  ten  stamens 
and  styles. 

The  root  of  this  plant  is  of  large  size,  frequent- 
ly exceeding  a  man's  leg  in  thickness,  and  is  usu- 
ally divided  into  two  or  three  principal  branches. 
Its  substance  is  fleshy  and  fibrous,  and  easily  cut 
or  broken.  Internally  it  is  distinctly  marked  with 
concentric  rings  of  considerable  thickness,  while 
its  outer  surface  is  covered  Avith  a  very  thin  brown- 
ish ])ark,  which  scenxs  to  be  little  more  than  a  cu- 


POKE.  41 

tide.     The  stalks,  wliicli  are  annual,  frequently 
ffrow  to  the  hciiicht  of  six,   and  even  nine  feet. 
They  are  round,  smooth,  and  very  much  h  ran  di- 
ed.    When  young',  theii*  usual  colour  is  green, 
but  in  most  plants,  after  the  berries  have  ripened, 
tJiey  are  of  a  fine  purple.     The  leaves  are  scatter- 
ed, petioled,  ovate-oblong,   smooth  on  both   sides, 
ribbed   umlerneath,  entire,  acute.     The   flowers 
grow  on  long  pedunculated  racemes  opposite  to 
leaves.     Peduncles    nearly   smooth,   angular,  as- 
cending.   Pedicels  divaricated,  sometimes  branch- 
ed, green,  white,  or  purple,  furnished  with  a  small 
linear  bracte  at  base,  and  two  others  in  the  mid- 
dle.    Calyx  none.     Corolla  resembling  a  calyx, 
whitish,  consisting  of  five  round-ovate,  concave, 
incurving  petals.     Stamens    ten,  rather  shorter 
than   the  petals,  with  white,  roundish,  two  lobed 
anthers.     Germ  greenish,  round,  depressed,  ten 
furrowed.     Styles  ten,  short,  recurved.    The  floAV- 
ers  are  succeeded  by  long  clusters  of  dark  purple 
berries,  almost  black,  depressed  or  flattened,  and 
marked  with  ten  furrows  on  the  sides. 

The  dried  root  is  light  coloured  and  spongy, 
with  a  mild  and  somewhat  sweetish  taste.  A  part 
of  it  is  soluble  both  in  water  and  alcohol,  and  nei- 
ther of  these  substances  renders  turbid  the  solu- 
tion in  the  other,  unless  the  solution  has  been  in- 

6 


4S  PHYTOLxVCCA  DECANDRA. 

spissated  by  long  boiling.  The  soluble  portion  ap- 
pears neither  resinous  nor  mucous.  It  approach- 
es most  nearly  to  extractive,  but  has  characters 
somewhat  peculiar  to  itself.  A  decoction  of  the 
I'oot  procured  by  boiling  for  ten  minutes  in  dis- 
tilled water,  exhibited  after  filtration  tlie  follow- 
ing results.  It  was  transparent,  nearly  colourless, 
and  did  not  alter  litmus.  It  gave  no  precipitate 
witli  the  sulphuric,  nitric,  muriatic,  oxymuriatic, 
and  acetous  acids.  It  gav«  no  precipitate  with  the 
sulphate  of  iron,  but  formed  a  copious  one  with 
the  nitrates  of  mercury  and  silver,  and  the  ace- 
tate of  lead.  Muriate  of  tin  produced  no  effect  at 
first,  but  after  standing,  a  light  precipitate  took 
place.  Pearl  ash,  lime  water,  and  muriate  of  ba- 
rytes  rendered  the  solution  turbid.  Acetate  of 
barytes  occasioned  no  change.  Oxymuriate  of 
lime  formed  an  immediate  precipitate. 

The  cold  infusion  exhibited  nearly  the  same 
results  as  the  decoction.  The  alcoholic  solution 
underwent  no  change  from  muriate  of  tin,  but 
threw  down  a  dense  precipitate  with  nitrate  of 
mercury. 

From  the  above  experiments  it  appears,  that 
the  soluble  principle  of  the  Phytolacca  differs 
from  common  vegetable  extractive,  as  defined  by 
the  chemists,  in  several  respects,  particularly  in 


POKE.  43 

not  being  thrown  down  bj  the  oxymuriatic  or 
other  mineral  acids,  and  in  being  but  partially 
affected  by  muriate  of  tin. 

In  the  Jimmies  de  Chimie,  vol.  Ixxii,  is  a  me- 
moir on  the  Chemical  properties  of  the  Phyto- 
lacca decandra  by  M.  Braconnot.  His  experi- 
ments indicate  the  presence  of  an  unusual  quan- 
tity of  vegetable  alkali  in  this  plant.  He  found 
that  the  ashes,  procured  by  incinerating  the  stalks, 
afforded  nearly  67  per  cent,  of  dried  alkaline  car- 
bonate, and  42  per  cent,  of  pure  caustic  potasho 
This  alkali  in  the  plant  is  neutralized  by  an  acid 
having  considerable  aflBinity  to  the  malic,  but 
with  a  few  shades  of  difference.  With  lime  and 
lead  malic  acid  forms  flocculent  precipitates,  very 
easily  soluble  in  distilled  vinegar,  but  those  with 
the  phytolaccic  acid  are  insoluble.  M.  Bracon- 
not thinks  this  acid  may  probably  be  a  mean  be- 
tween the  malic  and  oxalic  acids,  or  an  oxygeniz- 
ed malic  acid. 

The  same  memoir  contains  an  examination  of 
the  colouring  matter  in  the  berries  of  the  Phyto- 
lacca. The  juice  of  these  berries  is  of  a  very 
fine,  bright  purple  colour,  but  this  colour  is  ex- 
tremely fugacious  and  disappears  in  a  short  time 
from  cloth  or  paper  that  has  been  tinged  with  it. 
A  few  drops  of  lime  water  added  to  this  purple 


44<  PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA. 

juice  cliange  it  to  a  yellow  colour,  but  the  small- 
est quantity  of  acid  is  sufficient  to  restore  its  pur- 
ple hue.  Exposure  to  the  air  or  large  dilu- 
tions  is  sufficient  to  restore  the   original  purple. 

M.  Braconnot  considers  the  yellow  liquor  pro- 
duced by  the  juice  of  these  berries  and  lime  wa- 
ter as  one  of  the  most  delicate  tests  of  the  pres- 
ence of  acid.  Into  two  glasses  he  put  equal 
quantities  of  the  juice  made  yellow  and  of  an  in- 
fusion of  litmus  of  equal  depth  of  colour.  More 
than  sixty  drops  of  a  very  weak  acid  were  required 
to  redden  the  infusion  of  litmus,  but  less  than  fif- 
teen restored  the  purple  colour  of  the  Phytolacca. 
Hence  it  follows,  that  the  yellow  liquor  is  four 
times  as  sensible  to  the  presence  of  acid,  as  the 
infusion  of  litmus.  It  however  requires  to  be  us- 
ed immediately  after  it  is  prepared,  since  a  few 
hours  cause  a  spontaneous  change  in  it,  which  be- 
gins with  a  precipitate,  and  ends  with  a  depriva- 
tion of  colour. 

The  effiscts  produced  on  this  purple  colour  by 
other  reagents  were  as  follows.  Pure  alkalis  gave 
it  a  yellow  colour.  Alkaline  subcarbonates  a  vio- 
let, that  fades  and  becomes  jellow  by  standing. 
Weak  acids  no  perceptible  change.  Dilute  oxy- 
muriatic  acid  a  complete  deprivation  of  colour 
with  white  flocculi.     Alum  nothing  at  first,  but 


POKE.  45 

after  some  days,  a  very  light  red  precipitate.  Mu- 
riate of  lime  no  change.  Muriate  of  tin  a  red  se- 
diment inclining  to  lilac,  leaving  the  fluid  colour- 
less. Nitrate  of  lead  a  precipitate  of  the  colour 
of  wine  lees.  Super  oxided  sulphate  of  iron,  a 
dirtv  violet. 

Many  of  the  above  experiments  I  have  repeat- 
ed, and  added  others.  The  yellow  colour  produc- 
ed by  the  alkalis  borders  on  green.  Pure  stron- 
tian  produces  the  same  change  as  potash  and 
lime.  Pure  barytes  wholly  discharges  the  colour 
on  standing  a  short  time.  Acetate  of  lead  forms 
a  scarlet  precipitate,  leaving  the  liquid  nearly  col- 
ourless. 

The  purple  colour  that  tinges  the  cuticle  of 
the  stalks  of  the  Phytolacca  is  stated  in  the  above 
memoir,  to  be  of  the  same  nature  as  that  in  the 
berries,  and  to  afford  the  same  results. 

The  taste  of  the  berries  is  sweetish  and  nause- 
ous, leaving  behind  a  very  slight  sense  of  acrimo- 
ny. M.  Braconnot,  found  that  at  a  moderate  tem- 
perature, the  juice  underwent  the  vinous  fermen- 
tation, and  yielded  alcohol  by  distillation.  Dr. 
Shultz  procured  from  half  a  bushel  of  the  berries 
six  pints  of  spirit  sufficiently  strong  to  take  fire 
and  burn  with  readiness. 


46  PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA. 

In  its  medicinal  properties  the  root  of  the  Phy- 
tolacca decandra  approaches    nearer   to   ipecac- 
uanha than  any  American  vegetable,  I  have  hith- 
erto examined.    From  abundant  experience,  the 
result  of  many  trials  made  in  Dispensary  practice, 
I  am  satisfied  that,  when  properly  prepared,  it 
operates  in  the  same  doses  and  with  the  same  cer- 
tainty, as  the  South  American  emetic.    Ten  grains 
of  the  powder  will  rarely  remain  on  the  stomach, 
and  twenty  or  thirty  produce  a  powerful  operation, 
by  emesis  and  generally  by  catharsis.     In  its  mode 
of  operation,  this  medicine  has  some  peculiarities, 
a  part  of  which  are  favorable,  others  disadvanta- 
geous.    Its   advantages  are,  that  it  operates  with 
ease,  and  seldom  occasions  pain  or  cramp.     Its  dis- 
advantages are,   1.  That  it  is  slow  in  its  effects, 
frequently   not   beginning   to   operate    until    an 
hour,  and  sometimes  two  hours  after  it  is  taken. 
2.    That   it   continues   to   operate  for  a   greater 
length  of  time  than  is  usual  for  emetics,  although 
as  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  observe,  it  is  readily 
checked  by  an  opiate.     These  disadvantages  how- 
ever are  not  constant.     I  have  repeatedly  known 
it  commence  operating  in  fifteen  minutes,  and 
cease  after  four  or  five  ejections.     The  represen- 
tations of  patients  as  to  any  unpleasant  feelings 
under  its  effects,  are  not  greater  than  we  should 


POKE.  47 

naturally  expect,  when  it  is  recollected,  that  no 
emetic  is  altogether  comfortable  in  its  operation. 
Dr.  Fisher  of  Beverly*  informs  me  that  whenever 
he  has  used  the  Phytolacca,  it  has  performed  its 
duty  as  an  emetic  perfectly  well,  and  that  in  one 
patient,  a  female  of  irritable  stomach,  in  whom 
previous  emetics  had  always  excited  severe 
spasms,  ten  grains  of  the  Phytolacca  operated  ef- 
fectually, and  no  spasm  followed. 

I  have  sometimes  observed  slight  narcotic 
symptoms  during  the  operation  of  Phytolacca, 
particularly  vertigo.  But  others  have  not  always 
met  with  this  symptom.  Dr.  George  Hayward  of 
this  town,  who  has  had  much  experience  with  this 
medicine,  the  results  of  which  were  communicat- 
ed to  the  Linnsean  society,  and  afterwards  publish- 
ed in  the  New  England  Journal,  October  1817, 
states  that  in  doses  of  a  scruple,  he  never  notic- 
ed any  dizziness,  or  stupor  from  it,  although  he 
had  always  been  particular  in  his  inquiries  to 
know  if  any  such  symptoms  took  place.  The 
above  dose  was  administered  by  him  in  nearly 
thirty  cases,  in  all  of  which,  except  in  one  case,  it 
operated  as  an  emetic  and  cathartic,  usually  three 
or  four  times,  thoroughly,  though  not  severely, 
generally  commencing  its  operation  on  the  stom- 

*  Letter  dated  November,  1815. 


48  PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA. 

ach  in  an  hour,  and  rarely  continuing  longer  than 
four.  He  found  it  to  excite  little  or  no  nausea 
previous  to  its  operation,  and  though  it  made  a 
powerful  impression  on  the  system,  it  never  pro- 
duced any  disagreeahle  or  unusual  symptoms. 

Dr.  Hayward  also  made  trial  of  the  powder  of 
the  leaves,  which  he  found  to  possess  the  same 
properties  with  that  of  the  root,  but  to  be  less  ef- 
fectual and  less  certain  in  its  operation.  He  al- 
so prepared  a  tincture,  decoction,  and  wine  of  the 
root ;  but  all  these  were  inferior  to  the  medicine 
in  substance,  being  less  certain  in  their  effect,  and 
sometimes  giving  rise  to  troublesome  symptoms. 

Dr.  Shultz  of  Pennsylvania,  author  of  an  in- 
augural dissertation  on  the  Phytolacca  decandra, 
gave  the  expressed  juice  of  the  leaves,  berries, 
and  roots,  in  considerable  quantity  to  animals.  It 
operated  by  emesis  and  catharsis,  attended  with 
droAvsiness.  The  juice  of  the  root  was  most  active. 
He  also  gave  to  a  dog  two  ounces  of  the  spiritous 
liquor  distilled  from  the  berries.  It  occasioned 
nausea  and  drowsiness,  with  slight  spasmodic  mo- 
tions, but  no  vomiting. 

In  the  same  dissertation.  Dr.  Shultz  refers  to 
several  instances  of  persons  who  had  incautiously 
eaten  large  quantities  of  the  root  through  mistake. 
Its  effects  were  violent  vomiting   and  purging, 


POKE.  49 

prostration  of  strength,  and  in   some  instances 
convulsions. 

The  Phytolacca  has  had  some  reputation  in 
the  treatment  of  rheumatism.  Dr.  Griffits,  for- 
merly a  professor  in  the  University  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, found  it  of  great  use  in  Syphilitic  rheumatism. 
Dr.  Hayward  however  states,  that  he  derived  no 
advantage  from  its  employment  in  rheumatic  af- 
fections. 

The  young  shoots  of  this  vegetahle  are  desti- 
tute of  medicinal  qualities,  and  are  eaten  in  the 
spring  in  some  parts  of  the  United  States,  as  sub- 
stitutes for  asparagus.  At  this  time  the  succus 
proprius  or  returning  juice  of  the  plant  is  not  yet 
formed  by  exposure  of  the  sap  to  the  atmospheric 
air,  in  the  leaves.  The  ripe  berries  are  less  nox- 
ious than  the  green,  and  are  devoured  by  several 
species  of  birds.  In  Portugal  and  in  France  they 
were  formerly  employed  to  improve  the  colour  of 
red  wines,  until  the  interference  of  government 
became  necessary  to  put  a  stop  to  the  prac- 
tice. 

The  external  application  of  Phytolacca  has 
been  found  useful  in  a  variety  of  cases,  by  its  ac- 
tion as  a  local  stimulant.  The  ointment  and  ex- 
tract have  commonly  been  employed  for  this  pur- 
pose. These  preparations  usually  excite  a  sense  of 
7 


50  PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA. 

beat  and  smarting  on  being  first  applied.  I  liave 
cured  cases  of  psora  with  the  ointment,  and  Dr. 
Hayward  states,  that  he  found  it  successful  in  cas- 
es where  sulphur  had  failed.  A  case  of  tinia 
capitis  of  twelve  years'  standing,  which  had  re- 
sisted various  kinds  of  treatment,  was  also  cured 
by  this  application. 

The  Phytolacca  is  one   of  those  vegetables 
which  has  had  its  temporary  reputation  for  the 
cure  of  cancer.     For  this  purpose  it  has  been  re- 
sorted to  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  and  many 
men  of  science  have  been  convicts  to  its  efficacy? 
among  whom  were  Dr.  Colden  and  Dr.  Franklin  of 
our  country.  [JV*o<e  E.]     But  like  other  vegetable 
specifics  for  cancer,  it  owes  its  character  to  an  im- 
perfect discrimination  of  that  disease,  and  a  mis- 
application of  the  name.     All  that  can  be  strictly 
inferred  from  the  various  accounts  we  have  had 
on  this  subject,  is,  that  the  plant  has  often  proved 
useful  in  malignant  ulcers  by  its  stimulating  and 
almost  escharotic  effects,  frequently  producing  an 
eschar,  and  thus  altering  the  condition  of  the  ul- 
cerated surface. 

For  internal  use  no  preparation  of  the  Phyto- 
lacca is  to  be  preferred  to  the  powder,  of  which 
from  ten  to  fifteen  grains  is  often  a  sufficient 
emetic. 


POKE.  di 

The  root  should  he  du,^  late  in  autumn  or  dur- 
ing the  winter.  It  shouhl  he  cut  in  transverse 
slices  and  dried.  After  heing  pulverized,  it  is  to 
he  kept  in  close  stopped  phials.  The  stock  should 
he  annually  renewed,  as  its  activity  is  impaired  hy 
age. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Phytolacca  decandra,  LiNNiEus,  sp.pl. — Aiton,  Hort.  JCew.  ii, 
122. — Botanical  Magazine^  t.  931. — Michaux,  Fl.  Amer,  i.  278. 
PuBSH.  i.  324. — Phytolacca  vulgaris,  Dlllenius,  Hort.  Eltlu 
t.  239. — P.  Americana — Boerhaave,  Hort.  Lug.  ii.  70. — Solan- 
um  racemosum  Americanum,  Rails,  Hist.  662. — Plukenet, 
Phyt.  t.  225./.  3. — Solanum  magnum  Vii'ginianum  rubrum, 
Parkinson^,  Theatrum,  347. — EUtum  Americanum,  MuntiN" 
Girs,  Phyt,  cur.  t.212. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Murray,  appar.  med.  iv.  335.— Kaim,  travels  in  JV*.  .^mer.  i, 
197. — Graffenreid,  Mem.  Berne,  iii.  185. — Sch(epf.  71. — 
Browne,  Hist.  Jamaica,  232. — Amoen.  Acad.  iv. — Miller,  Diet- 
under  the  ?m7?ie.— SpROGEi.  Hiss.  dr.  ven.  24. — BecivMan,  com- 
ment. Gotting.  1779,  74.— Allioni,  Flor.Ped.  ii.  132.— Frank- 
iix,  works,  vol.  i. — Cutler,  Mem.  Amer.  Acad.  i.  447. — Rush, 
i.  259.— Thacher,  Disp,  300.— Shultz,  Inaugural  thesis.^ 
Hayward,  A".  Engl.  Jmirnal,  vi. 


PLATE  III. 

Fig.  1.  Phytolacca  decandra  injlower  and  in  fruit. 
Fig.  2.  Section  of  a  hcrry. 


ARUM  TRIPHYLLUM. 


Dragon  root. 


PLATE  IV. 

It  appears,  that  both  North  and  South  Amer- 
ica give  rise  to  this  species  of  Arum,  which  is  so 
versatile  in  its  constitution  as  to  bear  the  winters 
of  Canada,  and  the  perpetual  summer  of  Brazil. 
In  its  structure  it  is  one  of  our  most  singular  veg- 
etables, and  in  colour  one  of  the  most  variable. 
It  grows  in  swamps  and  damp  shady  woods,  and  is 
universally  knoAvn  among  us  by  the  names  of  Dra- 
gon root  and  Indian  turnip. 

The  class  to  which  the  family  of  Arums  be- 
long, is  rendered  somewhat  obscure  by  the  varia- 
tion of  the  species.  Most  botanists  have  placed 
them  in  the  class  Moncecia,  others  in  Polyandria, 
The  species  under  consideration  is  undoubtedly 
Folygamous,  In  natural  arrangements,  the  Arums 


/'/.//• 


1 13 


fi\f.  ii. 


r,.>.  m. 


f;.-.  1. 


F,:..  It: 


•     /y/////       //////'////W/j/ 


DRAGON  ROOT.  53 

are  found  under  the  Piperitw  of  Linnseus  and  the 
Aroidece  of  Jussieu. 

The  genus  Arum  may  be  characterized  as  fol- 
lows. Spathe  one  leaved,  convolute  at  base ;  spa- 
dix  naked  above,  bearing  the  organs  of  fructification 
at  base  ;  berries  one  celled. 

The  species  triphyllum  is  polygamous  ,•  has  its 
leaves  ternate  and  entire;  its  scape  bearing  an 
ovate,  acuminate,  inflexed  spathe  ;  its  spadicc  club- 
shaped,  shorter  than  the  spathe. 

The  root  is  round  and  flattened,  its  upper 
part  tunicated  like  the  onion,  its  lower  and 
larger  portion  tuberous  and  fleshy,  giving  ofi*  nu- 
merous long  white  radicles  in  a  circle  from  its 
upper  edge.  It  is  covered  on  the  under  side  with 
a  dark,  loose,  wrinkled  skin.  Leaves  usually  one 
or  two  on  long  sheathing  footstalks,  composed  of 
three  oval,  mostly  entire,  acuminate  leafets,  which 
are  smooth,  paler  on  the  under  side,  and  becom- 
ing glaucous  as  the  plant  grows  older,  the  two  late- 
ral ones  somewhat  rhomboidal.  Scape  erect,  round, 
green  or  variegated  with  purple,  invested  at  base 
by  the  petioles,  and  by  their  acute  sheaths.  This 
supports  a  large,  ovate,  acuminate  spatJie,  convo- 
luted into  a  tube  at  bottom,  but  flattened  and  bent 
over  at  the  top,  like  a  hood.  Its  internal  colour 
is  exceedingly  various,  even  in  plants  growing  to- 


54i  ARUM  TRIPHYLLUM. 

gether.  In  some  it  is  wholly  green,  in  others 
dark  purple  or  hlack.  In  most  it  is  variegated, 
as  in  our  figuj'e,  with  pale  greenish  stripes  on  a 
dark  ground.  The  spadix  is  much  shorter  than 
the  spathe,  club  shaped,  rounded  at  the  end, 
green,  purple,  black,  or  variegated,  suddenly  con- 
tracted into  a  narrow  neck  at  base,  and  surround- 
ed below  by  the  stamens  or  germs.  In  the  bar- 
ren plants,  its  base  is  covered  with  conical,  fleshy 
filaments,  bearing  from  two  to  four  circular  an- 
thers each.  In  the  fertile  plants,  it  is  invested 
with  roundish  crowded  germs,  each  tipt  with  a 
stigma.  Plants  which  are  perfectly  monoecious, 
and  which  are  the  least  common,  have  stamens 
below  the  germs.  There  are  also  frequently 
found  irregular,  reniform  substances,  much  larger 
than  the  anthers,  of  which  they  seem  to  be  a  dis- 
ease. The  upper  part  of  the  spadix  withers  with 
the  spathe,  while  the  germs  grow  into  a  large 
compact  bunch  of  shining  scarlet  berries. 

Every  part  of  the  Arum,  and  especially  the 
root,  is  violently  acrid,  and  almost  caustic.  Ap- 
plied to  the  tongue  or  to  any  secreting  surface,  it 
produces  an  eftect  like  that  of  Cayenne  pepper, 
but  far  more  powerful,  so  much  so,  as  to  leave  a 
permanent  soreness  of  many  hours'  continuance. 
Of  this  any  one  may  become  satisfied  by  a  simple 


DRAGON  ROOT.  55 

application  of  tlie  root  to  his  mouth.  Its  action 
does  not  readily  extend  through  the  cuticle,  since 
the  bruised  root  may  be  worn  upon  die  external 
skin  until  it  becomes  dry,  without  occasioning 
pain  or  rubefaction. 

The  acrid  property,  which  resides  in  this  and 
other  species  of  Arum,  appears  to  depend  upon 
a  distinct  vegetable  principle  in  Chemistry,  at 
present  but  little  understood.  It  is  extremely 
volatile,  and  disappears  almost  entirely  by  heat, 
drying,  or  simple  exposure  to  the  air.  I  have  en- 
deavoured, with  but  partial  success,  to  obtain  it 
in  a  separate  state,  or  in  any  perceptible  combina- 
tion. The  following  were  some  of  the  methods 
by  which  it  was  attempted. 

Portions  of  the  fresh  contused  root  were  sepa- 
rately digested  in  water,  in  proof  spirit,  in  alcohol, 
in  ether,  in  olive  oil  and  in  vinegar.  The  infu- 
sions were  tasted  at  different  periods,  but  none  of 
them  had  acquired  the  least  acrimony  from  the 
plant. 

The  expressed  juice  of  the  root  upon  standing 
one  minute  had  lost  all  its  pungency. 

A  quantity  of  the  bruised  root  was  placed  in  a 
retort  and  covered  with  water.  Heat  was  gradu- 
ally applied,  until  a  fluid  began  to  collect  in  the 
receiver.     This  fluid  had  the  peculiar  odour  of 


56  ARUM  TRIPHYLLUM. 

tlie  root,  but  was  wholly  without  acrimony.  The 
same  experiment  was  repeated  with  alcohol,  and 
vinegar,  and  afforded  similar  results.  In  every 
case  the  liquid  remaining  in  the  retort  was  alsa 
without  pungency. 

Some  glices  of  the  root  were  digested  in  proof 
spirit  in  a  close  stopped  phial.  The  portions  of 
root  retained  their  acrimony  at  the  end  of  some 
weeks,  but  had  imparted  none  to  the  spirit.  At 
the  end  of  two  years,  the  root  was  examined  and 
found  destitute  of  acrimony,  as  were  also  the 
whole  contents  of  the  phial. 

Suspecting  that  the  acrid  principle  of  this 
plant  must  escape  in  form  of  gas  during  the  pro- 
cesses Avhich  have  been  mentioned,  the  fol- 
lowing experiment  was  made.  A  quantity  of  the 
bruised  root  and  stalks  were  placed  in  a  vessel  of 
water.  A  glass  receiver  was  filled  with  water  and 
inverted  over  them,  and  sufficient  heat  applied  to 
raise  the  water  nearly  to  the  boUing  point.  From 
the  beginning  of  the  process,  bubbles  of  air  con- 
tinued to  escape  from  the  plant,  and  were  collect- 
ed in  the  upper  part  of  the  receiver.  In  the 
course  of  half  an  hour,  a  considerable  quantity  of 
permanent  gas  was  obtained.  A  part  of  this  gas, 
after  cooling,  was  transferred  to  a  phial,  in  which 
was  a  small  quantity  of  atmospheric  air.     On  pre- 


DRAGON  ROOT.  57 

senting  a  lighted  paper  to  the  mouth  of  this  phi- 
al, it  exploded  with  a  very  distinct  report.  An- 
other portion  of  the  gas  was  agitated  with  lime 
water,  which  it  rendered  turhid.  This  circum- 
stance was  prohably  owing  to  the  mixture  of  car- 
bonic acid  disengaged  from  the  plant,  or  from  the 
water  by  boiling. 

From  the  above  experiments,  which  circum- 
stances did  not  permit  me  to  pursue,  it  appears 
that  the  acrimony  of  the  Arum  resides  in  a  prin- 
ciple having  no  affinity  for  water,  alcohol,  or  oil, 
being  highly  volatile,  and,  in  a  state  of  gas,  in- 
flammable. The  products  of  its  combustion,  as 
well  as  its  other  affinities,  remain  to  be  investi- 
gated.* 

The  acrimony  of  the  Arum  when  fresh  is  too 
powerful  to  render  its  internal  exhibition  safe. 
The  roots,  when  dried  whole,  retain  a  small  por- 
tion of  their  pungency,  and  in  this  state  they  have 
been  given  by  some  practitioners  in  the  country 
for  flatulence,  cramp  in  the  stomach,  ^c.  also  for 

*  The  acrimony  of  the  Ranunculi,  which  approaches  that  of  the 
Arum,  is  lost  by  drying,  yet  is  soluble  in  water,  and  passes  over  with 
it  in  distillation.  That  of  Polygonum  hydropiper  disappears  in  de- 
coction and  distillation.  The  same  takes  place  with  several  other 
acrid  plants  which  I  have  examined.  Some  inquiries  into  the  acrid 
principle  of  vegetables  I  am  in  hopes  to  render  more  mature  at  a  fu- 
ture period. 

8 


58  ARUM  TRIPHYLLUM. 

asthmatic  affections.  As  topical  stimulants,  they 
promise  to  be  useful  when  any  method  shall  have 
been  discovered  of  fixinj^  and  preserving  their  ac- 
rimony. The  late  Dr.  Barton  of  Philadelphia  ob- 
serves, that  "  the  recent  root  of  this  plant  boiled 
in  milk,  so  as  to  communicate  to  the  milk  a  strong 
impregnation  of  the  peculiar  acrimony  of  the  plant, 
has  been  advantageously  employed  in  cases  of 
consumption  of  the  lungs."  This  statement  how- 
ever should  be  qualified  by  the  recollection,  that 
the  Arum  imparts  none  of  its  acrimony  to  milk 
upon  boiling.  An  impression  of  this  kind  can 
only  have  been  received  from  a  partial  mixture  of 
the  substance  of  the  root  with  the  milk. 

The  root  contains  a  large  proportion  of  yevy 
pure  white  fsecula,  resembling  t'le  finest  arrow 
root  or  starch.  To  procure  this,  the  fresh  root 
should  be  reduced  to  a  pulp,  and  placed  on  a 
strainer.  Repeated  portions  of  cold  water  should 
then  be  poured  on  it,  which  in  passing  through 
the  strainer  carry  with  them  the  farinaceous  part, 
leaving  the  fibrous  portion  beliind.  The  fsecula 
thus  obtained,  loses  its  acrimony  on  being  thor- 
oughly dried,  and  forms  a  very  white,  delicate  and 
nutritive  substance.  Dr.  M'Call  of  Georgia  found 
these  roots  to  yield  one  fourth  part  of  their  weight 
of  pure  amylaceous  matter. — It  is  not  uncommon 


DRAGON  ROOT.  59 

for  a  nutritious  fsecula  to  exist  in  pungent  and  poi- 
sonous roots.  1  he  Laplanders  prepare  a  whole- 
some bread  from  the  acrid  roots  of  Calla  palus- 
tris,  and  the  juice  of  the  Cassava,  or  bread 
root  tree  of  the  West  Indies,  is  known  to  be  high- 
ly deleterious  while  recent.  [JVofe  F.] 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

LiNNisus,  sp.  pi. — WiLLDENOW,  iv.  480. — AiTON^,  Hort.  Kew, 
iii.  315. — Waxter,  Carol.  224. — Michaux,  Ft.  ii.  188. — Pursh, 
ii.  399.  Dracunculus  s.  Scrpentaria  tripbylla,  &c. — BAUHiif, 
Tin.  195. — Arum  s.  Arisarum,  &c. — Morison,  Hist,  iii.  547, 
S.  13,  t.  5. — Plukenet,  t.  77,  f.  5.  also  t.  376,/.  3. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHCEPF,  Mat.  Med.  133. — Rush,  ii.  301. — Barton,  Coll.  29, 
&c. — M'Call,  in  PJiilad.  Med.  and  Phys.  Journal,  ii.  84, — Thach* 
ER,  Disp.  153. — Cutler,  Mem.  Jlmer.  Jlcad.  i.  48'. 


PLATE  IV. 

Fig.  1.  Arum  triphjRum. 

Fig.  2.  Spadix  with  anthers. 

Fig.  3,  Spadix  with  germs. 

Fig.  4.  Longitudinal  section  of  the  roof. 


COPTIS  TRIFOLIA. 


Gold  thread. 


PLATE  V. 


JL  HE  dark  spliagnous  swamps,  which  iu  the 
northern  parts  of  our  continent  are  covered  with 
a  perpetual  sliade  of  firs,  cedars  and  pines,  are 
the  favourite  haunts  of  this  elegant  little  ever- 
green. The  coldest  situations  seem  to  favour  its 
growth,  and  it  flourishes  alike  iu  the  morasses  of 
Canada  and  of  Siberia.  On  our  highest  mountain 
tops  it  plauts  itself  in  little  bogs  and  watery  clefts 
of  rocks,  and  perfects  its  fructification  in  the  short 
summer  allowed  it  in  those  situations.  I  have 
gathered  it  upon  the  summit  of  the  Ascutney  in 
Vermont,  aud  on  the  Alpine  regions  of  the  White 
mountaiiis.  It  is  here  that  in  company  with  the 
Diapensia  and  Azaleas  of  Lapland,  the  blue  Men- 
ziesia,  the  fragrant  Alpine  Holcus,  and  other  plants 


n.y. 


Fui.n 


/^ r'//  //,>         /i  //f  //ff 


COLD  THREAD.  61 

of  hiirh  northern  latitudes,  it  forms  the  link  of  bo- 
tanical  connexion  between  the  two  continents. 
When  in  situations  like  this,  we  seem  transported 
to  the  frigid  zone,  and  to  be  present  at  the  point 
where  the  hemisplieres  approach  each  other,  as  if 
to  interchange  their  productions.* 

In  the  second  volume  of  the  Amcenitates  Ac- 
ademicfe  is  a  description  and  imperfect  figure  of 
this  plant  as  brought  from  Kamschatka,  by  Hale- 
nius.  He  describes  it  by  the  name  Helleborus 
trifolms,  with  the  observation,  "  Minima  est  hsec 
planta  in  suo  genere,  attamen  spectabilis."  Sub- 
sequent botanists  have  ranked  it  with  the  Helle- 
bores, until  Mr.  Salisbury  very  properly  separat- 
ed it  from  a  family  of  plants,  with  which  it  wholly 
disagrees  in  habit,  and  constituted  a  new  genus 
by  the  name  of  Copils.  This  genus  is  character- 
ized by  the  following  marks.  Calyao  none ;  petals 
jive  or  six,  caducous ;  nectaries  five  or  si.v,  cu- 
cullale;  capsules  from  five  to  eight,  pedicelled,  beak- 
ed, many  seeded,  Tbe  species  trifoUa  has  ternate 
leaves,  and  a  onefiowered  scape, 

*  "  Non  sine  admiratione  vidi  non  solum  multas  cum  rarisslmis 
nostris  plantis  Lapponicis  communes,  sed  etiara  alias,  paitiin^ignotas 
omnino,  partim  nanime  tritas;  et  denique  quasdam  ctiam  cum  Cana- 
densibus  easdem,  argumento  Canadam  a  Camscatca  non  longe  dista- 
rej  uti  sequentes  antea  in  sola  America  boi  eali  visa?,  nunc  etiam  in 
extrema  ora  Siberiee."  Avmniiales  Jicademiccn,  ii.  310. 


6g  COPTIS  TRIFOLIA. 

In  botanical  arrangements,  the  Coptis  will  fol- 
low the  Hellebores,  from  which  it  was  taken,  re- 
maining in  the  class  and  order  Polyaiidria,  Polygy- 
niu,  with  the  Multisiliquse  of  Linn  sens  and  the 
Hanunculacese  of  Jussieu. 

The  roots  of  this  plant,  from  which  the  name 
of  goldthread  is  taken,  are  perennial  and  creeping. 
On  removing  the  moss  and  decayed  leaves  from 
the  surface  of  the  ground,  they  discover  them- 
selves of  a  bright  yellow  colour,  running  in  every 
direction.  The  bases  of  the  new  stems  are  in- 
vested with  a  number  of  yellowish,  ovate,  acumi- 
nate stipules.  Leaves  ternate,  on  long  slender 
petioles  ;  leafets  roundish,  acute  at  base,  lobed 
and  crenate,  the  crenatures  acuminate  ;  smooth, 
firm,  veiny.  Scape  slender,  round,  bearing  one 
small,  starry  white  flower,  and  a  minute,  ovate, 
acute  bracte  at  some  distance  below.  Calyx  none. 
Petals  five,  six  or  seven,  oblong,  concave,  white. 
Nectaries  five  or  six,  inversely  conical,  hoUow,  yel- 
low at  the  mouth.  Stamens  numerous,  white, 
with  capillary  filaments  and  roundish  anthers. 
Germs  from  five  to  seven,  stipitate,  oblong,  com- 
press,?d;  styles  recurved.  Capsules  pedicelled, 
umbelled,  oblong,  compressed,  beaked,  with  nu- 
merous black  oval  seeds  attached  to  the  inner  side. 

The  root  of  this  plant  is  a  pure  intense  bitter, 


GOLD  THREAD.  63 

scarcely  modified  by  any  other  taste.  In  distilla- 
tion it  communicates  no  decided  sensible  quality 
to  water.  The  constituent  with  which  it  most 
abounds  is  a  bitter  extractive  matter,  soluble  both 
in  water  and  alcohol.  It  seems  destitute  of  resi- 
nous or  gummy  portions,  since  the  residuum  from 
an  evaporated  solution  in  alcohol  is  readily  dissolv- 
ed in  water,  and  vice  versa.  It  is  devoid  of  astrin- 
gency  when  chewed  in  the  mouth,  and  it  gives  no 
indication  of  the  presence  of  tannin  or  gallic  acid 
when  tested  with  animal  gelatin,  or  with  sulphate 
of  iron.  The  abundance  of  the  bitter  principle 
is  evinced  by  the  acetate  of  lead  and  nitrate  of  sil- 
ver, both  of  which  throw  down  a  copious  precipi- 
tate. The  sulphuric,  nitric,  and  muriatic  acids 
occasion  no  change,  and  the  muriate  of  tin  giAes 
only  a  slight  precipitate,  after  some  time  standing. 
Of  this  article  larger  quantities  are  sold  in  the 
druggists'  shops  in  Boston,  than  of  almost  any  in- 
digenous production.  The  demand  for  it  arises 
from  its  supposed  efficacy  as  a  local  application  in 
aphthous,  and  other  ulcerations  of  tlie  mouth. 
Its  reputation  however  in  these  cases  is  wholly 
unmerited,  since  it  possesses  no  astringent  or 
stimulating  quality,  by  which  it  can  act  on  the  ul- 
cerated spots,  and  where  benefit  lias  attended  its 
use,  it  is  doubtless  to  be  ascribed  to  other  articles 


64^  COPTIS  TRIFOUA. 

possessing  the  above  properties,  •with  which  it  is 
usually  combined. 

As  a  pure  tonic  bitter,  capable  of  strengthen- 
ing the  viscera  and  promoting  digestion,  it  is  en- 
titled to  rank  with  most  articles  of  that  kind  now 
in  use.      Its    character   resembles   that   of  Gen- 
tian, Quassia,  and  Columbo,  being  a  simple  bitter 
without  aroma  or  astringency.    The  tincture,  made 
by  digesting  half  an  ounce  of  the  bruised  root  in 
eight  ounces  of  diluted  alcohol,  forms  a  preparation 
of  a  fine  yellow  colour,  possessing  the  whole  bit- 
terness of  the  plant.     I  have  given  it  in  various  in- 
stances to  dyspeptics  and  convalescents,  who  have 
generally  expressed  satisfaction  from  its  effects, 
at  least,  as  frequently  as  from  other  medicines  of 
its  class.     A  teaspoonful  may  be  taken  tbree  times 
a  day.     In  substance,  it  rests  well  on  the  stomach 
in  doses  of  ten  or  twenty  grains.     It  is   however 
difficult  to  reduce  to  powder  on  account  of  the  te- 
nacity of  its  fibres. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Coptis  ti'ifolia  Salisbury,  Lin.  Trans,  viii.  305. — Pursh,  ii. 
390. — Helleborus  trifolius,  sp,  pi. — ^Willd.  ii.  1338.  Kalm, 
Travels,  iii.  379. — Lepech.  ifer  i.  190. — ^Pallas,  7fer.  iii.  34. — 
Oedee,  F.  Dan.  t.  566. — Michaux,  Fl.  i.  325. — dmoen.  Acad, 
ii.  356,  t.  4./.  18. 


GOLD  THREAD.  65 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Helleboriis  trifolius,  Bart.  Coll.  Nigell a.— Cutler,  Jlmer. 
^9cad,  i.  457. — Thacher,  Disp.  283. 


PLATE  V. 

Fig.  1.  Coptis  Mfolia  with  the  root,  leaves,  flowers  and  last 
yearns  fruit. 

Fig.  2.  Mctaries,  stamens,  and  pistils  magnified. 

Fig.  S.  Section  of  a  capsule  shexving  the  seeds. 


ARBUTUS  UVA  URSI. 


Bear  berry. 


PLATE  VL 

Jd  ew  shrubs  are  more  extensively  diffused 
throughout  the  northern  hemisphere,  both  in  the 
old  and  new  continents,  than  this  trailing  ever- 
green. We  are  told  that  it  abounds  in  the  north- 
ern parts  of  Europe,  in  Sweden,  Lapland,  and  Ice- 
land, and  extends  southerly  to  the  shores  of  the 
Mediterranean.  In  Siberia  it  is  also  found,  and  is 
represented  as  abundant  on  the  banks  of  the 
AVolga.  In  North  America  it  grows  from  Hud- 
son's bay  as  far  south,  at  least,  as  the  central 
parts  of  the  United  States.  It  occupies  the  most 
barren  places,  such  as  gravelly  hills  and  dry, 
sandy  woods,  and  covers  the  ground  with  beds  of 
considerable  extent. 


PI  1 7 


Kir.l. 


//^ 


'KX 


Kff.r. 


BEAR  BERRY,  67 

The  family  of  plants  bearing  the  name  of  Ar- 
butus have  for  their  distinctive  marks  a  jive-part- 
ed calya(^,  an  ovate  corolla,  pellucid  at  base  ;  and 
a  superior,  five-celled  berry.  They  are  closely 
connected  to  the  Vaccinia  or  whortleberries,  from 
whicli  they  differ  principally  in  the  situation  of 
the  berry,  which  in  the  Arbutus  gro»s  above 
the  calyx,  and  in  the  Vaccinium  below  it. — Both 
these  genera,  at  least  the  American  species,  prop- 
erly belong  to  the  class  Becandria  and  order  Mono- 
gynia.  The  lAnnaian  natural  order  is  Bicornes. 
Jussieu  has  them  among  his  Ericas. 

The  species  Uva  ursi.  Bear's  grape  or  Bear- 
berry  is  known  from  the  rest  by  its  procumbent 
stem  and  entire  leaves.— It  trails  upon  the  ground, 
putting  out  roots  from  the  principal  stems,  and 
tending  upward  with  the  young  shoots  only»  The 
cuticle  is  deciduous,  and  peels  off  from  the  old 
stems.  Leaves  scattered,  obovate,  acute  at  base, 
attached  by  short  petioles,  coriaceous,  evergreen, 
glabrous,  shining  above,  paler  beneatli,  entire,  the 
margin  rounded,  but  scarcely  reflexed,  and  in  the 
young  ones  pubescent.  Flowers  in  a  short  cluster 
on  the  ends  of  the  branches.  Peduncles  reflexed, 
furnished  at  base  with  a  short  acute  bracte  under- 
neath, and  two  minute  ones  at  the  sides.  Calvx 
of  five  roundish  segments,  of  a  reddish  colour  and 


68  ARBUTUS  UVA  URSI. 

persistent.  Corolla  ovate  orurceolate,  white  with 
a  reddish  tinge,  transparent  at  base,  contracted 
at  the  mouth,  hairy  inside,  with  five  short,  reflex- 
ed  segments.  Stamens  inserted  at  the  base  of  the 
corolla  with  hairy  filaments,  and  anthers  with  two 
horns  and  two  pores  in  each.  Germ  round,  style 
straight,  longer  than  the  stamens,  stigma  simple. 
^Xectary  a  black  indented  ring,  situated  beloAV  the 
germ,  and  remaining  till  the  fruit  is  ripe.  Ber- 
ries  globular,  depressed,  of  a  deep  red,  approach- 
ing scarlet,  containing  an  insipid,  mealy  pulp,  and 
about  five  seeds,  which  in  the  American  plant  co- 
here strongly  together,  so  as  to  appear  like  the  nu- 
cleus of  a  drupe. 

The  leaves  and  stems  of  the  Uva  ursi  are  used 
in  Sweden  and  Russia  for  the  purpose  of  tanning 
leather.  According  to  Linnaeus,  large  quantities 
are  annually  collected  for  this  use. 

"When  chewed  in  the  mouth,  the  leaves  have 
an  astringent  taste,  combined  with  some  degree  of 
bitterness.  The  result  of  such  chemical  trials  as 
I  have  made  with  them,  shews  that  they  abound 
in  tannin,  Avhich  is  probably  their  chief  active  con- 
stituent. A  solution  of  gelatin  occasions  a  copi- 
ous precipitate  ;  sulphate  of  iron  an  equally  co- 
pious one  of  a  black  colour.  Nitrate  of  mercury 
and  lime  water  gave  large  precipitates  from  the 


BEAR  BERRY.  69 

decoction,  the  first  of  a  light  green,  the  last  of  a 
brownish  colour.  Of  the  existence  of  gallic  acid, 
at  least  as  it  exists  in  galls,  I  have  found  no  suffi- 
cient proof.  The  decoction  does  not  redden  vege- 
table blues,  and  the  black  precipitate  with  the  sul- 
phate of  iron  soon  subsides,  leaving  the  fluid  nearly 
colourless.  The  quantity  of  resin,  mucous  mat- 
ter and  extractive,  provided  they  exist  in  this  plant, 
must  be  minute  ;  since  the  decoction  was  not  ren- 
dered turbid  by  the  addition  of  alcohol  or  ether, 
nor  the  tincture  by  the  addition  of  water,  although 
after  standing  twenty  four  hours,  some  slight  floc- 
culi  appeared.  Muriate  of  tin  produced  no  precip- 
itation from  the  decoction,  though  it  gave  one  from 
the  tincture.  Acetite  of  lead  and  nitrate  of  sil- 
ver gave  large  precipitates.  Water  distilled  from 
this  plant,  suffered  no  change  with  sulphate  of 
iron,  or  muriate  of  tin. 

Professor  Murray  of  Gottingen,  finding  a  great- 
er amount  of  soluble  matter  taken  up  by  water 
than  by  alcohol,  considers  the  former  as  the  best 
menstruum  for  this  article.  A  similar  inference 
from  the  American  plant  was  made  by  Dr.  John 
S.  3Iitchell  in  an  inaugural  dissertation,  published 
at  Philadelphia  in  1803.  For  medical  uses,  Mur- 
ray prefers  the  decoction  to  the  infusion. 


70  ARBUTUS  UVA  URSI. 

The  Uva  ursi  was  probably  known  to  tbe  an- 
cients, as  it  grows  in  all  the  southern  parts  of  Eu- 
rope. Clusius  thinks  it  was  the  u^zrov  (r7ct<pvXti  of 
Galen,  celebrated  by  hini  as  a  remedy  in  hemop- 
tysis, and  described  as  follows.  "  Uva  ursi  in 
Ponto  nascitur,  planta  humilis  et  fruticosa,  folio 
Memsecyli,  fructum  ferens  rubrum,  rotundum, 
ffustu  austerum."  But  it  is  well  known  that  the 
brief  and  imperfect  descriptions  of  the  ancients 
were  productive  of  little  else  than  uncertainty  in 
Botany. 

In  modern  times  the  Uva  ursi  was  brought 
into  notice  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century  by  De  Haen,  as  an  efficient  remedy  in 
nephritic  and  even  in  calculous  cases.  It  had 
been  previously  in  use  for  these  complaints  in 
Spain,  at  Naples  and  Montpellier,  and  as  a  gener- 
al astringent,  at  a  still  earlier  period.  Its  reputa- 
tion was  still  further  augmented  by  subsequent 
dissertations,  publislied  upon  its  properties,  and 
different  sets  of  experiments  were  instituted  to 
ascertain  if  it  were  not  actually  capable  of  dissolv- 
ing the  stone  of  the  bladder.  The  results  most  in 
favour  of  its  solvent  power  were  those  of  Girardi, 
who  diminished  the  weight  and  consistency  of  uri- 
nary calculi,  by  digesting  them  in  a  preparation 
of  this  plant.     It  appears  however  that  the  prep- 


BEAR  BERRY.  71 

aration,  which  he  employed,  was  an  acid  liquor, 
obtained  by  a  destructive  distillation  of  the  leaves, 
and  probably  not  superior  to  other  weak  acids  in 
its  solvent  powers.  On  the  other  hand,  Professor 
Murray  found  what  might  reasonably  be  expect- 
ed, that  these  calculi  Avere  not  materially  affected 
by  long  digestion  in  a  decoction  of  this  plant  at 
various  temperatures. 

The  attention  of  many  medical  writers  has 
heen  called  to  the  properties  of  this  medicine, 
and  their  reports  as  to  its  success  are  extremely 
various.  Among  its  greatest  friends,  are  De 
Haen,  Professor  Murray,  and  Dr.  Ferriar  ;  while 
of  those  whose  opinion  is  more  unfavourable,  are 
Sauvages,  Haller,  Donald,  Munro  and  Fothergill. 
Dr.  Cullen  adopts  the  opinion  of  De  Heucher,  that 
the  symptoms  of  calculus  generally  are  suscepti- 
ble of  relief  from  astringents,  and  believes  that  on 
this  principle  the  Uva  ursi  is  capable  of  mitigat- 
ing complaints  arising  from  that  source.* 

In  this  country  the  Uva  ursi  has  acquired  the 
good  opinion  of  practitioners  of  medicine  in  re- 

*  In  the  preface  to  the  third  volume  of  Medical  Observations  and 
Inquiries,  published  at  London,  it  is  stated  in  very  general  terms,  that 
the  (jva  ursi  had  been  prescribed  unsuccessfully  bjmauj  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Physicians  in  London.  Dr.  Woodville,  in  his 
Medical  Botany,  has  unfortunately  misquoted  this  passage,  by  read- 
ing "  successfully"  instead  of"  unsuccessfully." 


7S  ARBUTUS  UVA  URSI. 

peated  instances.  Professor  Wistar  of  Phila- 
delphia, as  cited  by  Dr.  Mitchell,  has  in  several 
cases  found  symptoms  like  those  of  urinary  calcu- 
lus completely  removed  by  this  medicine.  But 
these  could  not  probably  have  been  cases  of  real 
calculus.  The  late  Professor  Barton  found  the 
plant  of  much  service  in  his  own  case  of  nephrit- 
ic paroxysms,  alternating  with  gout  in  the  feet. 

From  the  various  testimonies  which  have  beea 
given  respecting  the  properties  of  this  article,  we 
are  not  warranted  in  believing  it  to  possess  any 
real  lithontriptic  power.  At  the  same  time  it  un- 
doubtedly proves  a  palliative  for  calculous  symp- 
toms in  many  cases. 

I  have  repeatedly  watched  its  effects  in  parox- 
ysms of  nephritis,  brought  on  by  gravelly  concre- 
tions, and  am  on  the  whole  inclined  to  believe  in 
its  tendency  to  allay  sensibility  in  these  cases, 
and  to  hasten  the  relief  of  the  symptoms.  It 
ought  generally  to  be  preceded  by  evacuations, 
and  may  be  advantageously  accompanied  with 
opium. — In  cases  of  dysury  arising  from  a  vari- 
ety of  causes,  I  have  given  the  decoction  of  this 
plant  with  very  satisfactory  success  in  repeated 
instances. 

The  other  diseases  in  which  this  plant  has  been 
recommended  are,  catarrhus  vesica?,  leucorrhsea 


BEAR  BERRY.  73 

and  gonorrbfea.  All  these  complaints  it  has  tloubt- 
less  cured,  but  is  at  the  same  time  inferior  to 
other  medicines  in  use  for  the  same  purposes. 

Some  years  ago  the  Uva  ursi  was  recommend- 
ed as  a  remedy  in  pulmonary  consumption  by  Dr. 
Bourne  of  Oxford  in  England,  and  by  other  wri- 
ters in  the  periodical  works.  It  was  stated  to 
have  a  very  sensible  effect  in  diminishing  hectic 
fever,  and  abating  the  frequency  of  the  pulse  de- 
pendent on  it.  We  do  not  find  however  that  sub- 
sequent experience  has  justified  the  expectations 
formed  of  it  in  this  disease. 

In  Dr.  Mitchell's  experiments  on  the  pulse 
with  this  medicine,  it  appears  that  the  pulsations 
were  sometimes,  not  always,  slightly  increased  af- 
ter taking  it,  but  that  in  every  case  they  soon 
sunk  below  the  natural  standard,  and  remained  so 
for  some  time. 

Of  the  powder  of  the  leaves  of  Uva  ursi,  from 
one  to  tw  o  scruples  may  be  given  to  most  patients. 
Dr.  Ferriar's  dose  in  nephritis  was  from  five 
to  ten  grains,  but  a  larger  quantity  is  more  effec- 
tual, and  is  readily  borne  by  the  stomach.  The 
decoction  may  be  made  from  half  an  ounce 
of  the  leaves  boiled  for  ten  minutes  in  a  pint  of 
water.     From  a  wine  glass  to  a  gill  of  this  may 

be  taken  every  hour. 
10 


'/4!  ARBUTUS  UVA  URSI. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Arbutus  Uva  ursi,  Linn^us,  Fl.  Lapponica,  162,  t.  vi./.  3.— ■ 
Oeder,  fl  Dan.  t.  33. — Woodville,  i.  t.  70. — Smith,  Fl.  Brit. 
443. — Engl.  Bot.  t.  714. — Michaux,  Fl.  i.  249. — Pursh,  i.  282. 
— Uva  ursi,  J.  Bauhin,  i.  523. — Ciusius,  JRspan.  79. — Lobei, 
Icon.'i.  366.— Paekinson,  theatr.  1457. — ^Vitis  Idsea,  Raius, ifisf. 
1489. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Murray,  Apparatus  Med.  ii.  64. — Girardi,  de  Uva  ursina, 
&c. — De  Haen,  Ratio  medendi,  ii.  160,  &c. — Sauvages,  JSTosoU 
iii.  2,  200. — D.  Munro,  Mat.  Med.  iii.  288. — Fothergilx,  Med, 
Obs.  144. — Alexander,  Exp.  essaijs,  151. — Ferriar  i.  109. — 
Heberden  79,  360. — Davie,  Med,  and  Phys.  Jmirnaly  xv.  347. — 
Bourne,  in  dittof  xiv.  463. — Schiepf,  67. — Mitchell,  Inaugii* 
ral  Thesis. 


PLATE  VI. 

Fig.  1.  Arhitus  Uva  ursi,  tJie  American  vanetij. 

Fig.  2.  The  iiuignified  corolla  openedf  shewing  the  insertion  of 
the  stamens. 

Fig.  3.  CalijXf  nectarijf  germy  and  sttjle  magnijied. 

Fig.  4.  Calyx  and  nectary. 

Fig.  5.  Berry. 


/■/ .  /  u. 


y,fjfi/ 


( 1/  j/ifi/i  /ii.j/.) 


SANGUINAEIA  CANADENSIS. 


Blood  root. 


PLATE  ni. 

Among  the  earliest  visiters  of  spring  the  bota- 
nist will  find  in  almost  any  part  of  the  United 
States  the  Sangiiinaria  Canadensis.  Its  fine  white 
flowers  proceeding  from  the  bosom  of  a  young, 
convoluted  leaf,  become  visible  in  the  woods,  in 
Carolina,  in  the  month  of  March,  and  in  New  En- 
gland, toward  the  end  of  April.  Its  most  com- 
mon name  is  Blood  root.  It  has  also  the  appella 
tion.  of  Puccoon,  Turmeric,  Bed  root,  ^*c.  It  is  the 
only  species  we  at  present  possess  of  the  genus 
Sanguinaria,  distinguished  by  a  two  leaved  calyoo 
eight  petals,  and  an  oblong  capsule,  with  one  cell 
and  many  seeffs.— Class  Bolyandria,  order  Mono- 
gynia.  Natural  order  Rhoeadew,  L.  Papaveraceai^j 
Juss, 


76  SANGUINARIA  CANADENSIS. 

The  floAver  and  leaf  proceed  from  the  end  of 
a  horizontal,  fleshy,  abrupt  root,  fed  by  numerous 
radicles.  This  root  makes  offsets  from  its  sides, 
which  separate  as  the  old  root  decays,  acquiring 
by  this  separation  the  abrupt  or  premorse   form. 

Externally  the  colour  of  the  root  is  a  brownish 
red.  Internally  it  is  pale,  and  when  divided  emits 
a  bright  orange  coloured  juice  from  numerous 
points  of  its  surface.  Tlie  bud  or  hybernaculum, 
which  terminates  the  root,  is  composed  of  succes- 
sive scales  or  sheaths,  the  last  of  which  acquires  a 
considerable  size,  as  the  plant  springs  up.  By 
dissecting  this  hybernaculum  in  the  summer  or 
autumn,  we  may  discover  the  embryo  leaf  and 
flower  of  the  succeeding  spring,  and  with  a  com- 
mon magnifier,  even  the  stamens  may  be  counted. 

The  Sanguinaria  is  smooth  throughout.  The 
leaves  grow  on  long  channelled  petioles.  When 
spread  out,  they  are  reniform  or  heart  shaped, 
with  large  roundish  lobes  separated  by  obtuse  si- 
nuses. The  under  side  is  strongly  reticulated 
with  veins ;  it  is  paler  than  the  upper,  and  at  length 
becomes  glaucous.  The  scape  is  round,  rises  in 
front  of  the  petiole,  and  is  infolded  by  the  young 
leaf.  The  calyx  consists  of  two  concave,  ovate, 
obtuse  leaves,  which  are  perfect  in  the  bud,  but 
fall  off  when  the  corolla  expands.     Petals  eight, 


BLOOD  ROOT.  77 

spreading*,  concave,  obtuse,  the  alternate  or  ex- 
ternal ones  longer,  so  that  the  flower  has  a 
square  appearance.  This  is  its  natural  charac- 
ter, although  cultivation  sometimes  increases  the 
number  of  petals.  Stamens  numerous,  with  ob- 
long yellow  anthers.  Germ  oblong,  compressed, 
style  none,  stigma  thick,  somewhat  two  lobed. 
Capsule  oblong,  acute  at  both  extremities,  two 
valved.  Seeds  numerous,  roundish,  compressed, 
dark  sliining  red,  half  surrounded  with  a  peculiar 
white  vermiform  appendage,  which  projects  at  the 
lower  end. 

After  the  flower  has  fallen,  the  leaves  continue 
to  grow,  and  by  midsummer  have  acquired  so  large 
a  size  as  to  appear  like  a  different  plant. 

The  root  of  this  vegetable  is  the  only  part 
which  I  have  submitted  to  chemical  examination. 
The  experiments  made  on  this  substance,  gave 
evidence  of  the  following  constituent  principles. 
1.  A  peculiar  resin.  Alcohol  comes  off*  from 
the  root  strongly  impregnated  with  its  colour  and 
taste.  This  solution  is  rendered  turbid  by  the 
addition  of  water.  When  evaporated  to  dryness, 
it  leaves  a  residuum  partially,  but  not  wholly  soluble 
in  water.  When  successive  quantities  of  water 
have  been  agitated  with  the  powdered  root  until 
the  infusion  comes  off*  colourless,  alcohol  acquii'es 


"J  8  SAN GUIN ARIA  CANADENSIS. 

a  colour  from  the  remainder.  iEtlier  receives 
from  the  root  a  yellowish  colour,  and  when  eva- 
porated, leaves  the  resin  nearly  pure.  In  this 
state  it  is  moderately  adhesive,  of  a  deep  orange 
colour,  hitter  and  acrid,  diffusible,  but  not  soluble 
in  water.  The  resin  may  also  be  precipitated  in 
small  quantities  from  alcohol  by  water. 

2.  A  bitter  principle.  Both  water  and  alcohol 
acquire  a  strong  bitter  taste  when  digested  on  the 
root.  From  both  these  solutions  a  copious  pre- 
cipitate is  thrown  down  by  the  nitrate  of  silver 
and  the  acetite  of  lead.  Muriate  of  tin  gradually 
renders  the  solution  turbid,  but  without  a  p)'ecipi- 
tate.  Oxymuriatic  acid  renders  the  alcoholic  so- 
lution turbid,  but  produces  no  change  in  the  wa- 
tery solution  for  some  time.  At  length  a  precip- 
itate forms  and  slowly  subsides  ;  but  produces  no 
change  in  the  watery  solution.  No  precipitate  was 
formed  from  the  cold  acj[ueous  infusion  in  an  hour 
by  the  sulphuric  or  nitric  acids,  by  lime  water,  ni- 
trate of  mercury,  muriate  of  barytes,  oxalate  of 
ammonia,  sulphate  of  iron,  gelatine  or  h^dro-sul- 
phuret  of  potash.  After  standing  twenty  four 
hours,  a  very  slight  precipitate  was  discovered 
from  the  lime  water  and  nitrate  of  mercury  only. 

3.  An  acrid  principle.     The  acrimony  resides 
in  part  in  the  resin,  but  is  also  communicated  to 


BLOOD  ROOT.  79 

water.     It  is  diminished  by  heat,  yet  it  does  not 
come  over  with  water  in  distiUation, 

4.  Ffficula.  The  infusion  of  the  root  in  cold 
water  is  limpid.  The  hot  infusion  is  viscid  and 
glutinous  and  stiffens  linen.  From  this  solution 
the  ffficula  is  precipitated  in  a  white  powder  by  al- 
cohol. Nitric  acid  dissolves  this  precipitate,  which 
may  be  again  thrown  down  by  alcohol. 

5.  A  fibrous  or  woody  portion. 

The  beautiful  colour  of  the  root  seems  to  re- 
side more  in  the  resin  than  in  any  other  princi- 
ple, since  the  alcoholic  solution  has  always  more 
than  twice  as  much  colour  as  the  aqueous.  Pa- 
pers dipt  in  these  solutions  receive  a  bright  salmon, 
colour  from  the  tincture,  but  a  very  faint  one  from 
the  aqueous  infusion.  This  circumstance  furnish- 
es an  impediment  to  the  use  of  this  article  in  dyeing. 

The  medical  properties  of  the  Sanguinaria  are 
those  of  an  acrid  narcotic.  When  taken  in  a  large 
dose  it  irritates  the  fauces,  leaving  an  impression 
in  the  throat  for  considerable  time  after  it  is  swal- 
lowed. It  occasions  heartburn,  nausea,  faintness, 
and  frequently  vertigo  and  diminished  vision. 
At  length  it  vomits,  but  in  this  operation  it  is  less 
certain  than  otiier  emetics  in  common  use.  I'he 
above  effects  are  produced  by  a  dose  of  from  eight 
to  twenty  grains  of  the  fresh  powdered  root. 


80  SANGUINARIA  CANADENSIS. 

When  given  in  smaller  doses,  such  as  produce 
nausea  without  vomiting,  and  repeated  at  fre- 
quent intervals,  it  lessens  the  frequency  of  the 
pulse  in  a  manner  somewhat  analogous  to  the  op- 
eration of  Digitalis.  Tliis  however  is  a  seconda- 
ry effect,  since  in  its  primary  operation  it  seems 
to  accelerate  the  circulation.  Exhibited  in  this 
manner,  it  has  been  found  useful  in  several 
diseases. 

In  still  smaller  doses,  or  such  as  do  not  excite 
nausea,  it  has  acquired  some  reputation  as  a  tonic 
stimulant. 

Professor  Smith  of  Hanover,  New  Hampshire, 
in  a  paper  on  this  plant,  published  in  the  London 
Medical  Transactions,  vol.  i.  states  that  he  found 
the  powder  to  operate  violently  as  an  emetic,  pro- 
ducing great  prostration  of  strengtli,  during  its 
operation,  which  continued  for  some  time.  He  had 
not  known  it  to  act  as  a  cathartic.  Snuffed  up  the 
nostrils,  it  proved  sternutatory,  and  left  a  sensa- 
tion of  heat  for  some  time.  Applied  to  fungous 
flesh  it  proved  escharotic,  and  several  polypi  of  the 
soft  kind  were  cured  by  it  in  his  hands.  He  found 
it  of  great  use  in  the  incipient  stages  of  pulmona- 
ry consumption,  given  in  as  large  doses  as  the 
stomach  would  bear,  and  repeated.  In  cases  of 
great  irritation  it  was  combined  with  opium.  Some 


BLOOD  ROOT.  81 

Other  complaints  were  benefitted  by  it,  such  as 
acute  rheumatism  and  jaundice. 

Professor  Ives  of  New  Haven*  considers  the 
Blood  root  as  a  remedy  of  importance  in  many  dis- 
eases, particularly  of  the  lungs  and  liver.  He  ob- 
serves, that  in  typhoid  pneumonia,  "  in  plethoric 
constitutions,  when  respiration  is  very  difficult, 
the  cheeks  and  hands  become  livid,  the  pulse  full 
soft,  vibrating  and  easily  compressed, — tlie  Blood 
root  has  done  more  to  obviate  tlie  symptoms  and 
remove  the  disease,"  than  any  remedy  which  he 
has  used.  In  such  cases,  he  observes,  "  the  dose 
must  be  large  in  proportion  to  tlie  violence  of  the 
disease,  and  often  repeated,  until  it  excites  vomit- 
ing, or  relieves  the  symptoms."  lie  infuses  from 
a  scruple  to  half  a  drachm  of  the  powdered  root 
in  half  a  gill  of  hot  water,  and  gives  one  or  two  tea- 
spoonfuls  every  half  hour,  in  urgent  cases,  until 
the  effect  is  produced.  This  treatment  has  often 
removed  the  symptoms  in  a  few  hours. 

Dr.  Ives  thinks  highly  of  its  use  in  influenza, 
in  phthisis,  and  particularly  in  hooping  cough. 
He  also  states,  that  given  in  large  doses,  sufficient 
to  produce  full  vomiting,  it  often  removes  the 
Croup,  if  administered  in  the  first  stages.  It  has 
been  given,  he  remarks,  "for  many  years  in  the 

*  Letter  dated  November  5,  1816. 
11 


8^  SAUGUINARIA  CANADENSIS. 

country,  some  physicians  relying  wholly  on  this 
remedy  for  the  cure  of  croup." 

Dr.  Macbride,  of  Charleston,  S.  C.  who  has 
contributed  many  judicious  remarks  on  the  medi- 
cinal properties  of  plants,  to  3Ir.  Elliott's  excel- 
lent Botany  of  the  Southern  States  ;  informs  me,* 
that  he  has  found  the  Blood  root  useful  in  Hy- 
drothorax,  given  in  doses  of  sixty  drops,  tei*  de  die, 
and  increased  until  nausea  followed  each  dose. 
In  a  week  or  two  the  good  effect  was  evident,  the 
pulse  being  rendered  slow  and  regular,  and  the 
respiration  much  improved.  In  the  same  letter 
he  observes,  "  In  torpor  of  the  liver,  attended  with 
colic  and  yellowness  of  the  skin,  a  disease  com- 
mon in  this  climate,  I  use  the  Puccoon  with  evi- 
dent advantage.  We  use  it  also  in  jaundice,  but 
in  this  disease  I  do  not  trust  exclusively  to  it.  I 
prefer  the  pill  or  powder  (dose  from  two  to  five 
grains)  and  vinous  infusion,  to  the  spirituous  tinc- 
ture." 

The  tincture  of  Sanguinaria  may  be  made  by 
digesting  an  ounce  of  the  powdered  root  in  eight 
ounces  of  diluted  alcohol.  Tliis  preparation  pos- 
sesses all  the  bitterness,  but  less  of  the  nauseat- 
ing quality,  than  the  infusion.  In  the  dose  of  a 
small  teaspoonful,  it  is  used  by  many  practitioners 

*  Letter  dated  December,  1816. 


BLOOD  ROOT.  83 

as  a  stimulating  tonic,  capable  of  increasing  the 
appetite  and  promoting  digestion. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Sanguinaria  Canadensis,  Lin.  sp,  pi. — Curtis,  Botan.  Mag. 
t.  162. — AiTON,  Hort.  Kew.  ii.  222. — Walter,  Carol.  153. — 
MiCHAUX,  Flora  1,  309. — Pursh,  ii.  366. — Sanguinaria  minor, 
Dlllenius,  Elth.  f.  326  and  S.  major,  /.  325  in  t.  252. — Cheli- 
doniuni  maximum  acaulon  Canadensc  Raius,  Hist.  1887. — Ran- 
unculus Virg.  albus.  Parkinson,  Th.  326. — Chelidonium  ma- 
jus  Canad.  acaulon  Cornutus,  Canad.  212. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScH(EPF,  85. — Smith,  Trans.  Lond.  Med.  Sociehj,  i.  179.— 
Bart.  Coll.  28. — Cutier,  Mem.  Amer.  Jlcad.  i.  455. — Thacherj* 
Disp.  331. 


GERAISIUM  MACULATUM. 


Common  Craneshill. 


PLJlTE  VIII. 

An  common  language  the  term  Geranium  in- 
cludes all  that  extensive  tribe  of  plants  comprised 
by  tlie  old  genus  of  tliat  name,  and  principally 
characterised  by  their  beaked  fruit  and  five  seeds 
which  are  scattered  by  means  of  awns.  L'Heri- 
tier  has  divided  this  family  into  three  distinct  gen- 
era, under  different  orders  in  the  artificial  class 
Monadelphiu.  These  are  Erodium,  having  five  sta- 
mens, five  nectariferous  scales  and  glands,  and  the 
awns  of  the  fruit  twisted  and  bearded.  PelargonU 
um,  which  includes  most  of  the  Cape  species  so 
commonly  cultivated  among  us,  having  about  seven 
stamens,  an  irregular  corolla,  and  a  nectareous  tube 
running  down  the  peduncle.  Lastly,  Geranium 
having  ten  stamens,  a  regular  corolla,  five  nee- 


/•/.  \w. 


.  7 


COMMON  CUANESBILL.  85 

tariferous  glands  at  the  base  of  the  longer  fila- 
ments, the  awns  of  the  fruit  neither  bearded  nor 
twisted.  To  this  division  belongs  the  plant  under 
consideration,  which  has  the  following  specific 
character.  Erect,  hairy  backward  ;  stem  forked; 
leaves  opposite,  three  or  jive  parted,  cut;  peduncles 
mostly  tivo flowered  ;  petals,  ohovate,  entire, 

Jussieu  has  formed  a  natural  order  by  the 
name  of  Gerania,  which  nearly  corresponds  to  the 
Gruinales  of  Linnjeus. 

Although  we  have  few  species  of  Geranium 
in  the  United  States,  yet  the  present  species,  by  its 
extensive  diffusion,  is  a  sufficient  representative 
of  the  race.  It  is  very  common  in  low  grounds, 
about  Boston  and  Philadelphia,  in  the  Carolinas, 
and  in  the  western  country  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio  and  Illinois. 

The  root  of  Geranium  maculatum  is  perennial, 
horizontal,  thick,  rough  and  knobby.  In  most 
plants  it  sends  up  a  stem  and  several  root  leaves. 
The  leaves  are  spreading,  hairy,  divided  in  a  pal- 
mate manner  into  three,  five,  or  seven  lobes,  which 
are  variously  cut  and  toothed  at  their  extremi- 
ties ;  those  of  the  root  are  on  long  petioles,  those 
at  the  middle  of  the  stem  opposite  and  petioled, 
those  at  the  top  opposite  and  nearly  sessile.  The 
stem  is  erect,  round,  hispid  witli  reversed  hairs, 


86  GERANIUM  MACULATUM. 

dichotomous,  with  a  flower  stalk  in  the  fork.  Sti- 
pules and  bractes  linear,  dilated  at  base.  Pedun- 
cles round,  bairy,  swelling  at  base,  generally  two 
flowered.  Calyx  of  five  oblong,  ribbed,  mucron- 
ated  leaves,  with  the  parts,  which  are  outermost 
in  the  bud,  hairy.  Petals  five,  obovate,  not  emargi- 
nate,  of  a  light  purple  colour,  which  is  deeper 
when  the  plant  grows  in  the  shade,  marked  with 
green  at  the  base.  Stamens  ten,  erect  or  curving 
outward,  the  alternate  ones  a  little  longer,  with 
nectariferous  glands  at  the  base  ;  filaments  dilat- 
ed and  united  together  at  base  ;  anthers  oblong, 
deciduous,  so  that  tlie  number  frequently  appears 
less  than  ten.  Germ  ovate ;  style  straight,  as 
long  as  the  stamens  ;  stigmas  five,  at  first  erect, 
afterwards  recurved.  Capsule  five  seeded,  sur- 
mounted by  a  long  straight  beak,  from  the  sides  of 
which  when  ripe  are  separated  five  thin,  flat  awns, 
which  curl  up,  having  cast  off  the  seed  contained 
in  the  cell  at  the  base  of  each. 

The  root  of  the  Geranium,  which  is  the  part  to 
be  used  in  medicine,  is  internally  of  a  green  col- 
our, and  when  dry  is  exceedingly  brittle  and  easi- 
ly reduced  to  powder.  It  is  one  of  the  most  pow- 
erful astringents  we  possess,  and  from  its  decided 
properties,  as  well  as  the  ease  of  procuring  it,  it 
may  well  supersede  in  medicine  many  foreign  ar- 


COMMON  CRANESBILL.  87 

tides  of  its  class  which  are  consumed  among  us. 
The  experiments,  wliich  I  have  made  upon  this 
root,  have  been  principally  directed  to  the  exami- 
nation of  its  astringent  qualities. 

A  drachm  of  the  powdered  root  was  steeped  ia 
two  ounces  of  cold  water  and  the  infusion  filtrat- 
ed. Successive  portions  of  water  were  add- 
ed until  the  liquid  came  off  colourless  and  taste- 
less. The  collected  infusion  had  a  pale  greenish 
colour,  and  a  styptic,  austere  taste.  It  did  not 
redden  vegetable  blues. 

To  half  this  infusion  was  added  a  drachm  of 
gelatin  in  solution.  The  liquor  instantly  became 
of  a  milky  whiteness,  and  a  copious  white  precipi- 
tate was  thrown  down.  This  precipitate  was  dri- 
ed and  assumed  a  semi-transparent,  horny  ap- 
pearance.    Its  weight  was  eleven  grains. 

A  drachm  of  kino  treated  in  the  same  man- 
ner was  rendered  turbid,  but  gave  a  very  scanty 
precipitate  with  the  gelatin. 

To  portions  of  the  same  infusions  was  added  a 
solution  of  the  muriate  of  tin.  In  both  of  them  a 
greenisb  precipitate  was  formed,  but  that  of  the 
Geranium  was  much  the  most  immediate  and 
abundant. 

The  sulphate  of  iron  struck  a  dark  purple  col- 
our with  the  infusion  of  Geranium.     The  com- 


88  GERANIUM  MACULATUM. 

pound  remained  principally  suspended  at  the  end 
of  twenty  four  hours,  and  when  used  in  writing 
had  the  appearance  of  common  ink,  but  in  a  few 
days  changed  to  a  dull  brown  colour.  A  por- 
tion of  the  fresh  infusion  was  distilled,  but  the  li- 
quid which  came  over  was  not  altered  in  colour 
by  the  sulphate  of  iron. 

The  above  experiments  indicate  the  presence 
of  tannin  and  gallic  acid,  the  former  in  large  quan- 
tities, in  the  root  of  the  Geranium.  The  propor- 
tion of  tannin  seems  considerably  to  exceed  that 
in  the  kino  of  the  shops.  The  gallic  acid  is  in- 
dicated by  the  dark  precipitate  remaining  in  so- 
lution. This  is  Berth oUet's  criterion.  It  differs 
however  from  the  acid  of  oak  galls  in  not  reddening 
vegetable  blues,  and  not  passing  over  in  distillation. 

Alcoliol  and  proof  spirit  readily  dissolve   the 
active  constituents  of  the   Geranium.     The    tinc- 
ture  has  a  great  sensible   astringency,  and  is   a 
convenient  mode  of  keeping  the  article  for  use. 

The  Geranium  has  been  repeatedly  employed 
in  medicine  by  various  practitioners  in  this  coun- 
try. I  have  found  it  useful  in  a  number  of  cases, 
where  astringents  were  capable  of  rendering  ser- 
vice. It  is  particularly  suited  to  the  treatment  of 
such  discharges  as  continue  from  debility  after 
tlie  removal  of  their  exciting  causes.     The  tine- 


COMMON  CRANESBILL,  89 

ture  forms  an  excellent  local  application  in  sore 
throats  and  ulcerations  of  the  mouth. 

Its  internal  use  has  been  recommended  in  dys- 
entery and  cholera  infantum,  but  astringents  are 
not  always  admissible  in  these  complaints,  at  least 
in  their  early  stages,  during  the  existence  of  much 
active  inflammation,  or  during  the  presence  of  any 
substance  requiring  to  be  removed. 

The  Geranium  may  be  used  in  powder  in  ex- 
tract, or  in  tincture.  Its  doses  are  similar  to 
those  of  kino  and  catechu,  a  drachm  or  two  of 
the  tincture,  twenty  or  thirty  grains  of  the  pow- 
der, and  a  quantity  somewhat  less  of  the  extract. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Geranium  maculatum,  Sp.pl.  Wilideivow,  iii.  705. — Gron^o- 
vius,  Virg.  101. — Waiter,  Carol.  175. — Michaux,  ii.  38.— 
PuRSH,  ii.  448. — G.  caule  erecto,  herbaceo,  foliis  oppositis,  quin- 
quepartitis,  incisis  &c.  Cavaxilles,  diss.  t.  86,/.  2. — G.  batra- 
chi()ides,  Aniericanum,  maculatum,  floribus  obsolete  cceruleis, 
J)lLL.Elth.  158.  t.  131,/.  159. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHCEPF,  107. — Bart.  Coll.  7. — Cutler,  Mem,  Jmer.  Jlcad. 
i.  469. — Thacher,  Disp.  9.M, 

PLATE  VIIL 

Fig.  1.  Geranium  maculatum. 
Fig.  -2.  Thejndt. 
Fig.  3.  The  root. 

±2 


TEIOSTEUM  PERFOLIATUM. 


Fever  root. 


PLATE  IX, 

X  HIS  is  rather  a  solitary  plant,  and  though 
met  witli  in  most  parts  of  the  United  States,  it 
rarely,  I  believe,  occurs  in  large  quantities.  About 
Boston  it  is  found  in  several  places  at  the  borders 
of  woods  in  rich,  shady  situations.  Its  common 
names  are  Fever  root  and  Wild  ipecac*  Pursh 
observes,  that  it  is  rare,  and  generally  occurs  in 
limestone  soils.  With  us  it  flowers  in  June  and 
ripens  its  fruit  in  September. 

The  genus  Triosteiim  is  found  in  the  class 

*  The  quaint  appellation  of  Dr.  Tinker*s  weed,  which  has  been 
bestowed  on  this  plant,  is  thus  gravely  commented  on  by  Poiret. 
"  Ses  racines  et  celles  de  I'espece  precedente  passent  pour  emeti- 
ques  ;  le  docteur  Tinkar  est  le  premier  qui  les  a  mises  en  usage,  et 
qui  a  fait  donner  a  cette  plante  par  plusieurs  habitans  de  I'Amerique 
septentrionale  le  nom  d'  herbe  sauva^e  du  docteur  TinkarP 


Tio.  m 


Fi.,  r. 


fl.:  II. 


Fio.  IV 


Fi„  fl.  F'.r.    III. 


/i/(.J//n//     //I  tA  f/ff/ff  ff/ 


FEVER  ROOT.  9i 

Fentandria  and  order  Monogynia.  Its  natural 
affinities  place  it  among  the  Aggregatw  of  Lin^ 
n?eus  and  the  CaprifoUa  of  Jussieu.  It  is  charac- 
terized by  a  monopetaloiis,  jive-lobed,  iineiiual  co- 
rolla ;  a  calyx  as  long  as  the  corolla  ;  and  a  ber- 
ry with  three  cells  and  three  seeds.  The  species 
perfoliatuin  differs  from  the  rest  in  having  its 
leaves  connate,  and  its  flowers  sessile  and  ivhorled. 
The  root  of  this  plant  is  perennial  and  subdi- 
vided into  numerous  horizontal  branches.  The 
stem  is  erect,  hairy,  fistulous,  round,  from  one  to 
four  feet  high.  The  leaves  are  opposite,  the 
pairs  crossing  each  other,  connate,  ovate,  acumi- 
nate, entire,  rather  flat,  abruptly  contracted  at 
base  into  a  sort  of  neck,  resembling  a  >vinged 
petiole.  This  portion  varies  in  width,  as  Michaux 
has  expressed  it,  "foliis  latins,  angustiusve  con 
natis."  In  general  it  is  narrow  when  the  plant  is 
in  flower,  as  represented  in  the  figure ;  and  wider 
when  it  is  in  fruit.  The  flowers  are  axillary,  sessile^ 
five  or  six  in  a  whorl,  the  upper  ones  generally 
in  a  single  pair.  Each  axil  is  furnished  with  t^^o 
or  three  linear  bractes.  The  calyx  consists  of 
five  segments  which  are  spreading,  oblong-linear 
coloured,  unequal,  persistent.  Corolla  tubular^ 
curving,  of  a  dull  brownish  purple,  covered  with 
minute  hairs,  its  base  gibbous,  its  border  open  and 


9^  TRIOSTEUM  PERFOLIATUM. 

divided  into  live  rounded,  unequal  lobes.  Stamens 
inserted  in  tlie  tube  of  the  corolla,  liairy,  with 
oblong  anthers.  Germ  inferior,  roundish  ;  style 
longer  than  the  corolla;  stigma  peltate.  The 
fruit  is  an  oval  berry  of  a  deep  orange  yellow,* 
litiiry,  somewhat  three  sided,  crowned  with  the 
calyx,  containing  three  cells  and  three  hard,  bony, 
furrowed  seeds,  from  wliich  the  name  of  the  genus 
is  taken. 

This  plant  was  made  the  subject  of  an  inter- 
esting communication  to  the  Linngean  society  of 
"New  England,  by  Dr.  John  Randall.  The  exper- 
iments made  by  him  on  its  medical  uses  and  phar- 
maceutical preparations  were  numerous,  and 
serve  to  throw  much  light  on  its  properties.  In 
trying  the  solvent  powers  of  w  ater  and  alcohol,  he 
found  that  water  afforded  a  much  greater  quanti- 
ty of  extract  than  alcohol,  and  that  the  spirituous 
extract  was  perfectly  soluble  in  water,  whence  he 
infers  that  no  resin  in  a  pure  state  exists  in  the 
plant.  He  discovered  no  volatile  oil  by  distilla- 
tion, nor  any  other  principle  of  activity  in  water 
distilled  from  the  plant.     He  concludes  also,  that 

*  Pursh  observes  that  the  flowers  and  berries  are  purple.  In  all 
the  specimens  I  have  examined,  which  have  not  been  few  in  number, 
the  fruit  was  of  a  bright  orange  colour.  If  Pursh  has  seen  a  plant 
with  purple  berries,  it  is  probably  a  different  species  from  the  true 
plant  of  Linuteus  and  Dillenius,  whicli  had  ^'fructus  lutescentes." 


FEVER  ROOT.  98 

no  free  acid  exists  in  this  vegetable.  Of  the  dif- 
ferent parts  submitted  to  examination,  the  leaves 
yielded  the  greatest  quantity  of  soluble  matter, 
but  the  root  afforded  that  of  the  greatest  activity. 
By  decoction  and  evaporation  with  water  an  ounce 
of  the  dried  stalks  afforded  one  drachm  of  ex- 
tract ;  an  ounce  of  the  dry  roots,  two  drachms 
and  two  scruples,  and  the  same  quantity  of  leaves 
half  an  ounce.  From  a  similar  treatment  of  equal 
portions  with  alcohol,  rather  more  than  half  the 
above  quantities  of  extract  were  obtained. 

The  sensible  qualities  of  the  root  were  found 
essentially  different  from  those  of  the  herb.  Both 
of  them  possess  a  large  share  of  bitterness,  but  the 
root  has  also  a  nauseous  taste  and  smell,  some- 
what approaching  to  those  of  ipecacuanha.  The 
medical  properties  of  the  Triosteum  are  those  of 
an  emetic  and  cathartic.  In  the  above  disserta- 
tion, about  thirty  cases  are  detailed,  in  which  dif- 
ferent preparations  and  quantities  of  the  article 
w^ere  given  to  various  persons  with  a  view  to  their 
medicinal  effects.  The  general  inference  to  be 
made  from  them  is,  that  the  bark  of  the  root  acts 
with  tolerable  certainty  as  an  evacuant  upon  the 
alimentary  canal,  both  by  emesis  and  catharsis. 
When  given  alone,  either  in  powder  or  decoction, 
the  instances  of  its  failure  were  not  many,  and 


94  TRIOSTEUM  PERFOLIATUM. 

when  combined  with  calomel,  its  operation  was  at- 
tended with  a  certainty,  hardly  inferior  to  that  of 
jalap.  The  aqueous  and  spirituous  extract  of  the 
root  were  likewise  efficacious,  and  nearly  in  an 
equal  degree.  Preparations  made  from  different 
parts  of  the  herb  possessed  much  less  activity,  the 
decoction  of  the  leaves  operating  only  as  a  diapho- 
retic, and  that  of  the  stalk  producing  no  effect. 

The  late  Professor  Barton  of  Philadelphia,  in 
his  Collections  toward  a  Materia  Mcdica  of  the  U- 
iiited  States,  speaks  of  this  plant  as  a  mild  and 
good  cathartic,  sometimes  operating  as  a  diuretic 
and  in  large  doses  as  an  emetic. 

My  own  experience  with  this  plant  has  not 
been  extensive,  yet  sufficient  to  satisfy  me  of  its 
medicinal  power.  Where  I  have  administered  it, 
it  has  generally  proved  cathartic,  a  larger  dose 
however  being  requisite  for  this  purpose,  than  of 
jalap  or  aloes.  It  has  sometimes  failed  to  pro- 
duce any  effect,  and  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that 
its  efficacy  is  much  impaired  by  age.  Those  who 
may  incline  to  employ  it,  will  do  well  to  renew 
their  stock  annually,  and  to  keep  the  powder  in 
close  stopped  phials. 

A  dose  of  the  bark  of  the  root  in  powder  is 
twenty  or  twenty  five  grains,  and  of  the  extract, 
a  somewhat  smaller  quantity. 


TEVER  ROOT.  95 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Triosteum  perfoliatum,  Lin.  sp.  pi.  Aiton,  Ilort.  KexOy  i.  234. 
— PuRsu.  i.  162. — Triosteum  majus,  Michaux,  Fl.  i.  107. — ^T. 
floribus  verticillatis,  sessilibus,  Gronov.  31. — Triosteosper- 
nium  latiore  folio,  flore  rutilo,  Dillenius,  Elth,  U  293.  /.  378. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHCEPF,  23. — Bart.  Coll.  29. 

PLATE  IX. 

Fig.  1.  Triosteum  perfoliatum. 

Fig.  2.  *3  Jlower  separated. 

Fig.  3.  The  corolla  opened,  shewing  the  stamens  and  style. 

Fig.  4.  The  calyx. 

Fig.  5.  The  fruit,  crowned  with  the  calyx. 

Fig.  6.  The  same  dissected  to  shew  the  three  seeds. 

Fig.  7.  A  seed. 


RHUS  VERNIX. 


Foison  Sumach  or  Dogwood. 


PLATE  X. 

1  HE  fine,  smooth  foliage  of  the  Rhus  vernix 
render  it  one  of  the  most  elegant  of  our  native 
shrubs,  while  its  well  known  poisonous  qualities 
make  it  an  object  of  aversion,  and  deter  most  per- 
sons from  a  near  inspection  of  its  structure  and 
characteristics.  From  Canada  to  Carolina  it  is  a 
common  tenant  of  swamps  and  meadows,  usually 
attaining  the  height  of  ten  or  fifteen  feet,  but 
sometimes  rising  into  a  tree  of  twice  that  altitude. 
The  names  of  Poison  tree,  Poison  wood,  Poison 
ash,  ^c.  are  applied  to  it  in  different  parts  of  the 
United  States.  In  Massachusetts  it  is  universal- 
ly known  by  the  name  of  Logwood,  This  appel- 
lation, being  applied  throughout  the  country  to 
Corniis  florida,  serves  to  shew  the  fallacy  of  de- 


>r^ 


POISON  SUMACH.  97 

pending  on  vulgar  or  provincial  names  for  the 
distinction  of  plants.     A  mistake  of  very  injuri- 
ous consequence  might  easily  arise  from  the  confu- 
sion of  the  English  names  of  two  trees  so  dissimi- 
lar in  their  qualities. 

The  class  FentmiAria  and  order  Trigynia  ;  the 
Linnsean  order  Bumosce  and  the  Jussieuean  Tere- 
bintacece  include  the  genus  to  which  this  shrub 
belongs.  The  generic  character  consists  in  an 
inferior,  five-parted  calyjo,  a  corolla  of  five  petals^ 
and  a  berry  with  one  seed.  The  Rhus  vernix  has 
its  leaves  annual,  pinnate,  glabrous  ,•  its  leafets  ob- 
long, entire,  acuminate ;  its  panicle  lax,  and  its 
fiowers  dioecious. 

The  trunk  of  the  poison  sumach  is  from  one 
to  five  inches  in  diameter,  branching  at  top,  and 
covered  with  a  pale  greyish  bark.  The  wood  is 
light  and  brittle,  and  contains  much  pith.  The 
ends  of  the  young  shoots  and  the  petioles  are  usu- 
ally of  a  fine  red  colour,  w  hich  contributes  much 
to  the  beauty  of  the  shrub.  The  leaves  are  pin- 
nate, the  leafets  oblong  or  oval,  entire,  or  some- 
times slightly  sinuate,  acuminate,  smooth,  paler 
underneath,  nearly  sessile,  except  the  terminal 
one.  The  flowers,  which  appear  in  June,  are  very 
small,  green,  in  loose  axillary  panicles.  Where 
they  appear  not  axillary,  it  is  because  the  leat  un- 
13 


98  IIHUS  VERNIX. 

der  them  has  heen  detached.  The  barren  and 
fertile  flowers  grow  on  different  trees.  The 
panicles  of  barren  flowers  are  the  largest  and 
most  branched.  They  are  furnished  with  short, 
oblong  bractes,  and  downy  pedicels.  The  ca- 
lyx has  five  ovate  segments,  and  the  corolla  five 
oblong,  sigmoid  petals.  The  stamens  are  longer 
than  the  petals,  and  project  tlirough  their  in- 
terstices. The  rudiment  of  a  three-cleft  style 
is  found  in  the  centre.— In  the  fertile  flowers, 
the  panicles  of  which  are  much  smaller,  the 
calyx  and  petals  resemble  the  last,  while  the 
centre  is  occupied  by  an  oval  germ,  ending  in 
three  circular  stigmas.  The  fruit  is  a  bunch 
of  dry  berries  or  rather  drupes  of  a  greenish 
white,  sometimes  marked  with  slight  purple  veins, 
and  becoming  wrinkled  when  old.  They  are 
roundish,  a  little  broadest  at  the  upper  end,  and 
compressed ;  containing  one  white,  hard,  furrow- 
ed seed. 

A  tree,  supposed  to  be  the  same  with  the 
Rhus  vernix,  grows  in  Japan,  and  furnishes  the 
celebrated  black  varnish  of  that  country. 

A  controversy  respecting  the  identity  of  the 
Japanese  and  American  species,  was  carried  on  in 
the  forty  ninth  and  fiftieth  volumes  of  the  London 
Philosophical  transactions,  by  Mr.  Philip  Miller 


POISON  SUMACH.  99 

and  Mr.  John  Ellis.  The  mass  of  evidence  seems 
to  justify  the  helief,  that  notwithstanding  the  re- 
moteness of  their  situation,  they  are  one  and  the 
same  species.  Tiie  description  of  the  oriental 
tree,  given  in  Ksempfer's  Amcenitates  exoticse, 
agrees  very  closely  with  that  of  the  American 
species.  [J\*ote  G.]  Like  our  native  Rhus,  the 
Japanese  tree  possesses  a  poisonous  influence, 
and  frequently  causes  a  severe  cutaneous  affection 
in  those  who  approach  or  gather  it.  It  only  re- 
mains to  shew,  that  a  varnish  may  he  obtained 
from  the  American  Rhus  vernix,  to  furnish  strong 
presumptive  evidence  of  the  identity  of  the  two. 

If  an  incision  be  made  in  the  bark  of  our 
Rhus  vernix  in  the  spring  or  autumn,  a  quantity 
of  thick  viscid  fluid  immediately  exudes,  and 
sometimes  with  such  rapidity  as  to  drop  off  be- 
fore it  can  be  collected.  This  juice  has  an 
opaque,  whitish  appearance,  and  a  strong,  pene- 
trating,  disagreeable  smell.  On  exposure  to  the 
atmosphere,  its  colour  soon  changes  to  a  deep 
black.  It  is  extremely  slow  in  drying,  and  per- 
manently retains  its  black  colour. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1814,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  Dr.  Pierson,  whose  case  is  afterwards 
described;  I  collected  several  ounces  of  this  juice 
from  a  thicket  of  trees  in  Brighton.     Being  col- 


100  RHUS  VERNIX, 

lected  in  a  phial,  it  retained  its  whitish  colour^ 
except  at  the  surface,  where  it  turned  hlack  from 
its  contact  with  the  air  in  the  upper  part.  Thi& 
juice  was  kept  for  more  than  two  years  without 
any  cliange  in  its  appearance.  In  cold  weather 
it  was  extremely  viscid,  and  flowed  with  difficulty. 
Different  portions  of  this  juice  were  submitted 
to  chemical  examination.  It  was  perfectly  insolu- 
ble in  water,  although  upon  boiling  with  it,  it 
formed  a  thick  emulsion.  Alcohol  dissolved  it 
sparingly,  and  the  solution  was  rendered  turbid 
by  water,  ^ther  combined  with  it  more  large- 
ly, forming  a  thick,  opaque  compound.  Strong 
sulphuric  acid  combined  with  it,  producing  a 
black  solid  mass.  Alkalies  also  combined  with 
it,  and  a  strong  solution  of  pearl  ash  dissolved  a 
portion  of  it,  which  was  afterwards  precipitated 
by  sulphuric  acid.  It  had  an  affinity  for  metallic 
oxyds,  and  powdered  litharge,  upon  being  boiled 
with  it,  rendered  it  nearly  solid.  In  distillation 
at  the  heat  of  boiling  water,  nothing  came  over 
except  a  slight  film  upon  the  surface  of  the  wa- 
ter. AYhen  the  heat  was  raised  to  the  boiling 
point  of  the  juice,  a  quantity  of  thin,  blackish,  vol- 
atile oil  came  over,  which  dried  up  on  being  ex- 
posed to  the  air,  leaving  a  slight  coating  on  the 
surface  of  the  vessel  which  contained  it.     The 


POISON  SUMACH.  10 1 

portion  remaining  in  the  retort  was  much  inspis- 
sated, and  upon  cooling  hecame  nearly  solid. 

Being  desirous  to  try  the  effect  of  this  juice, 
employed  as  a  varnish,  I  applied  a  coating*  of  it 
with  a  hrush  to  different  surfaces  of  wood,  glass, 
tinned  iron,  paper,  and  cloth.  These  were  ex- 
posed to  the  air  and  light  during  tlie  whole  of 
the  months  of  July  and  August,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  period  they  had  not  hecome  dry. 
Each  of  the  coatings  was  half  fluid  and  adhesive, 
and  had  collected  much  dust.  Upon  the  cloth 
and  paper  the  juice  had  spread  extensively,  giv- 
ing them  an  oily  appearance. 

Concluding  from  this  experiment  that  the 
juice  could  not  he  usefully  employed  in  its  crude 
state,  I  endeavoured  to  render  it  more  drying  by 
the  addition  of  litharge.  The  compound,  which 
resulted  from  boiling  with  this  oxyd,  became  dry 
in  a  short  time,  but  was  not  distinguished  for  any 
remarkable  degree  of  lustre. 

The  third  and  last  experiment  proved  more 
satisfactory.  A  quantity  of  the  juice  was  boiled 
alone,  until  nearly  all  the  volatile  oil  had  escaped, 
and  the  remainder  was  reduced  almost  to  the 
state  of  a  resin.  In  this  state  it  was  applied  while 
warm  to  several  substances,  which  after  cooling 
exhibited  the  most  brilliant,  glossy,  jet  black  sur- 


lOS  RHUS  VERNIX. 

face.  The  coating  appeared  very  durable  and 
firm,  and  was  not  affected  by  moisture.  It  was 
elastic  and  perfectly  opaque,  and  seemed  calcu- 
lated to  answer  the  purposes  of  both  paint  and 
Tarnish. 

The  chemical  constitution  of  the  juice  of  the 
Rhus  vernix  seems,  from  the  foregoing  experi- 
ments, to  be  most  analogous  to  that  of  the  bal- 
sams, consisting  chiefly  of  a  resin  and  an  essen- 
tial oil.  The  oil  dissipates  slowly  at  low^ temper- 
atures, approaching  in  this  and  some  other  res- 
pects to  the  character  of  a  fixed  oil.  The  resin, 
when  procured  in  contact  with  the  atmospheric 
air,  is  black,  opaque,  and  solid,  rendered  very  ad- 
hesive, and  at  length  fluid  by  heat. 

A  very  distressing,  cutaneous  disease,  it  is 
well  known,  ensues  in  many  persons  from  the  con- 
tact, and  even  from  the  effluvium  of  this  shrub. 
The  poisonous  influence  which  produces  this  af- 
fection is  common  to  several  other  trees  and 
plants,  such  as  the  Poison  vine  or  Poison  ivy, 
(Rhus  radicans,)  the  Cashew  nut,  (Anacardium 
occidentalej  and  the  Manchineel,  (Hippomane 
mancinella,)  Even  the  garden  Rue,  and  com- 
mon Oleander,  are  said  to  affect  some  persons  in 
a  similar  manner. — The  Rhus  vernix  is  the  most 
formidable  of  this  tribe  which  is  found  among  us, 


POISON  SUMACH.  103 

and  occasionally  produces  the  most  severe  effects. 
It  is  however  extremely  various  in  its  action,  up- 
on persons  of  different  idosyncrasies.  Some  can- 
not come  within  the  atmosphere  of  the  shrub, 
without  suffering  the  most  violent  consequences. 
Others  are  but  slightly  affected  by  handling  it, 
and  some  can  even  rub,  chew,  and  swallow  the 
leaves  without  tlie  smallest  inconvenience. 

The  most  formidable  cases  in  persons  subject 
to  this  poison,  usually  commence  within  twenty 
four  hours  after  the  exposure.  The  interval  is 
sometimes  longer,  but  more  frequently  shorter. 
The  symptoms  are  generally  ushered  in  by  a 
sense  of  itching  and  a  tumefaction  of  the  hands 
and  face.  The  swelling  gradually  extends  over 
various  parts  of  the  body,  assuming  an  erysipela- 
tous appearance.  The  inflamed  parts  become 
more  elevated,  acquiring  a  livid  redness,  attended 
with  a  painful  burning  sensation.  Small  vesicles 
now  appear  upon  the  surface,  which  extend  and 
run  into  each  other.  They  contain  a  transparent 
fluid,  \^  Inch  by  degrees  becomes  yellow,  and  at 
length  assumes  a  purulent  appearance.  A  dis- 
charge takes  place  from  these  vesicles  or  pustules, 
giving  rise  to  a  yellowish  incrustation,  which  af- 
terwards becomes  brown.  In  the  mean  time  an 
insupportable  sensation  of  itching  and  burning  is 


104  RHUS  VERNIX. 

felt.  The  inflamed  parts  become  excessively 
swollen,  so  that  not  unfrequently  the  eyes  are 
closed,  and  the  countenance  assumes  a  shapeless 
and  cadaverous  appearance,  which  has  been  com- 
pared to  that  in  malignant  small  pox.  The  dis- 
ease is  usually  at  its  height  from  the  fourth  to  the 
sixth  day,  after  which  the  skin  and  incrustations 
begin  to  separate  from  the  diseased  parts,  and 
the  symptoms  gradually  subside.  It  is  not  com- 
mon for  any  scars  or  permanent  traces  of  the  dis- 
ease to  remain.  Notwithstanding  the  violent 
character  which  it  sometimes  assumes,  I  never 
knew  an  authenticated  case  of  its  terminating  fa- 
tally. It  is  however  capable  of  occasioning  the 
most  distressing  symptoms.  Kalm,  in  his  travels 
in  North  America,  mentions  a  person  who,  by  the 
simple  exhalation  of  the  Rhus  vernix,  was  swol- 
len to  such  a  degree,  that  "  he  was  stiff  as  a  log  of 
wood,  and  could  only  be  turned  about  in  sheets." 
Dr.  Thacher  mentions  a  case,  in  which  the  head 
and  body  were  swollen  to  a  prodigious  degree,  so 
as  to  occasion  the  loss  of  sight  for  some  time ;  and 
the  patient  recovered  at  the  end  of  several  weeks 
with  the  loss  of  his  hair  and  nails. 

Of  the  cases  which  have  fallen  under  my  no- 
tice, the  following  affords  a  fair  instance  of  the 
operation  of  this  poison,  as  it  ordinarily  effects 


POISON  SUMACH.  105 

those  who  are  constitutionally  liable  to  it.  On  the 
37tli  of  October,  1814,  Dr.  A.  L.  Pierson,  then  a 
student  of  medicine,  accompanied  me  to  Brighton 
for  the  purpose  of  collecting  the  juice  of  the  Rhus 
vernix,  growing  at  that  place.  He  had  always 
supposed  himself  constitutionally  exempt  from 
liability  to  the  poison.  The  day  proved  warm, 
and  the  effluvium  from  the  incisions  we  had  made 
in  the  trees  was  very  powerful.  We  were  engag- 
ed in  the  collection  for  upwards  of  an  hour,  dur- 
ing which  he  was  less  exposed  than  myself,  be- 
ing absent  a  part  of  the  time.  His  own  account 
of  the  symptoms  which  followed  this  exposure  is 
as  follows  : 

"  I  felt  no  mipleasant  effects  for  six  or  seven 
hours  after  returning  to  Boston.  About  8  o'clock 
P.  M.  I  perceived  the  backs  of  my  hands  were 
swollen  and  puffy,  but  without  pain  or  itching ; 
my  forehead  and  upper  lip  were  soon  in  the  same 
state.  On  the  morning  of  the  28th  the  tumefac- 
tion had  increased,  and  I  discovered  various  other 
parts  of  my  body  to  be  infected.  The  backs  of  my 
hands  and  wrists,  which  were  the  most  advanced, 
began  to  show  small  watery  vesicles.  No  appli- 
cations were  made  till  the  noon  of  this  day.  I 
then  applied   cloths   dipped  in  lead  water  to  one 

hand  and  wrist,  and  in  a  spirituous  solution  of  the 
14 


106  IIHUS  VEHNIX. 

the  corrosive  muriate  of  mercury  to  the  other. 
From   this  and  subsequent  trials,  I  am  induced 
to  prefer  the  lead.     The  parts   began  to  itch — 
the  tumefaction  increased — vesication   began  to 
take  place  on  the  swollen  surface — small  pustules 
formed  and  ran  into  each  other,  and  at  last  some 
were  formed  as  large  as  nutmegs.     On  the  S9th, 
my  eyes  were   nearly  closed,  in   consequence  of 
the  swelling  of  my  forehead,  eyebrows  and  cheeks. 
The  contents  of  the  vesicles  were  perfectly  lim- 
pid— inoculation  from   them  to  other  parts  had 
no   effect — neither  in  this    nor  any  subsequent 
stage.     On  the  evening  of  the   30th,  the  inflam- 
mation appeared  at  its  height.     The  burning  sen- 
sation and  itching  were  intolerable.    I  could  scarce-: 
ly  discern  any  object.     On  the  31st,  the  pustules 
began  to  appear  a  little  milky — and  before  night 
the  inflammation  was  evidently  on  the  decline. 
I  this  day  applied  an  ointment,  composed  of  Ung. 
Stramonii,  1  oz.-^Subm.  Hyd.  c.  Ammonia  (white 
precipitate)   1  dr.  mixed— with  a  very  pleasant 
effect.     It  was  now  soothing,  although  before  it 
had  seemed  to  irritate,  and  produced  pain  when 
applied.     November  1st,  a  very  free  desquama- 
tion began,  first  on  my  forehead,  hands  and  wrists. 
And  in  just  a  fortnight  I  was  enabled  to  leave  my 
chamber,  blessed  with  a  new  cuticle  from  the  root 


POISON  SUMACH.  107 

of  the  hair  on  my  forehead  to  my  breast,  from  the 
middle  of  my  forearm  to  the  tips  of  my  fingers, 
and  on  the  whole  inside  of  my  tliighs.  The  con- 
stitutional effects  of  this  thorough  vesication  were 
but  slight.  During  the  first  five  days,  my  pulses 
were  increased  from  ten  to  twenty  strokes  in  the 
minute.  The  time  of  duration  of  the  inflamma- 
tory symptoms  in  this  case  accords  pretty  well 
with  the  account  of  Prof.  Barton,  who  states.  I 
think,  tlie  height  of  it  to  he  on  the  fifth  day.  It 
is  worth  observing,  that  the  operation  of  the  poi- 
son seemed  to  have  a  considerable  effect  in  reliev- 
ing me  from  dispeptic  symptoms,  with  which  I 
had  been  previously  troubled,  and  also  benefitted 
a  chronic  inflammation  of  my  eyes.  I  am  still 
subject  to  an  eruption  of  watery  pustules  between 
my  fingers,  which  dry  up,  and  the  cuticle  peels 
off."    Letter  datedJiily^  i8i5. 

Many  constitutions  are  but  slightly,  or  not  at 
all,  affected  by  the  poison  of  the  Rhus  vernix. 
This  I  find  to  be  my  own  case.  After  the  same 
exposure,  which  occasioned  the  case  just  detailed, 
I  experienced  no  ill  consequence,  except  a  slight 
vesicular  eruption  on  the  backs  of  the  hands  and 
about  the  eyes,  which  disappeared  in  a  short  time, 
without  farther  inconvenience.  The  same  slight 
affection  I  have  felt  upon  several  subsequent  ex- 


108  RHUS  VERNIX. 

posures,  particulai'ly  when  making,  from  a  recent 
specimen,  the  drawing  which  accompanies  this 
account. 

I  apprehend  that  a  majority  of  persons  are  not 
liahle  to  the  injurious  eifects  of  the  poisonous  su- 
macs. Among  persons  residing  in  the  country, 
exposures  must  occur  very  frequently  from  the 
abundance  of  these  shrubs,  especially  of  the  Rhus 
radicans,  by  roadsides  and  elsewhere.  Yery  few 
however,  in  proportion  to  the  number  exposed, 
have  personal  experience  of  their  deleterious  ef- 
fects. In  those  on  the  contrary,  in  whom  a  con- 
stitutional liability  to  the  poison  exists,  the  disease 
frequently  returns  several  times  during  life,  not- 
Avithstanding  the  utmost  precaution  in  avoiding 
its  causes.  A  gentleman  residing  in  the  coun- 
trv  infowned  me,  that  he  had  been  seven  times 
poisoned  to  the  most  violent  degree.  In  such 
constitutions  a  slight  exposure  is  sufficient  to  ex- 
cite the  disease.  I  have  known  individuals  bad- 
ly poisoned  in  winter  from  the  wood  of  the  Rhus 
vernix,  accidentally  burnt  on  the  fire.  Others 
have  made  tlie  same  observation. 

Some  farther  remarks  on  the  poison  of  these 
shrubs,  and  on  the  treatment  of  the  disease  oc- 
casioned by  them,  vill  be  made  in  a  future  part 
of  this  work,  under  the  head  of  IBihns  radican^* 


POISON  SUMACH.  109 

Many  interesting  observations  on  the  proper- 
ties of  these  species  of  Sumach,  will  he  found  in 
an  inaugural  dissertation,  hy  Dr.  Thomas  Hors- 
field  of  Bethlehem,  Pa.  a  work  of  much  industry 
and  merit. 

In  the  New  York  Medical  Repository  is  an 
account  of  a  swarm  of  bees,  which,  having  alight- 
ed on  the  branches  of  the  Rhus  vernix,  were  the 
next  day  found  dead,  with  their  bodies  black  and 
swollen.  This  is  a  remarkable  circumstance. 
There  is  certainly  no  instinctive  aversion  in  these 
animals  for  the  tree.  In  the  flowering  season  the 
blossoms,  which  are  very  fragrant,  are  always 
thronged  with  a  multitude  of  winged  insects  in 
quest  of  their  honey. 

The  introduction  of  the  juice  into  the  arts 
will  not  perhaps  take  place  among  us,  during  the 
present  high  price  of  labour,  and  the  general  pre- 
judice which  exists  against  the  shrub.    In  some  fu- 
ture period,  it  is  probable  that  a  substance,  which  is 
found  so  valuable  in  the   eastern  countries,  will 
not  be  neglected  among  us.     It  might  safely  be 
procured  by  persons   not  subject  to  the   poison, 
and,  with  proper  precautions,  would  injure  no  one 
during  its  preparation  and  use.     A  pound  of  the 
juice  in  a  day  might  be  collected  by  an  individ- 
ual.    When  thoroughly  dry,  it  ceases  to  emit  an 


110  RHUS  VERNIX. 

effluvium,  and  nothing  farther  is  to  be  apprehend- 
ed from  its  effects. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Rhus  vernix  LiNNiEUS,  Sp.  pi. — Aiton,  Hort  Kew.  i.  366.— 
MiCHAUX,  i.  183. — PuRSH,  i.  205. — Pennated  toxicodendron 
Ellis,  Phil,  trans,  abr.  xi.  passim,  American  toxicodendron 
Miller,  ibid. — ^Toxicodendron  carolinianum  foliis  pinnatis, 
&c.  Mazeas,  ibid.  x.  595. — Toxicodendron  foliis  alatis,  fructu 
rhomboideo,  Dill.  Elth.  390,  t.  9,92,  f.  377. — Arbor  Americana 
alatis  foliis,  succo  lacteo,  venenato,  Plukenet,  p%i.  1. 145./.  1* 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Dudley,  Phil,  trans,  abr.  vi.  507. — Sherard,  ditto.  508.— 
Kalm,  travels,  i.  77. — Marshall,  arbust.  130. — Cutler,  Amer, 
Acad.  427. — Barton,  Coll.  24. — Thacher,  Disp.  321. — Hors- 
riELD,  Inaugural  Dissertation. 


PLATE  X. 

Fig.  1.  Rhus  vernix f  with  staminiferousjlowers. 
Fig.  2.  A  staminifermis  or  barren  flower  magnijied. 
Fig.  3.  Stamens  and  rudiment  of  a  pistil. 
Fig.  4.  A  fertile  flower  magnifled. 
Fig.  5.  Germ  and  stigmas. 
Fig.  6.  The  fruit. 


AMERICAN 

MEDICAL  BOTANY. 

VOLUME  I. PART  IT. 


sS;-*'-"' 


AMERICAN 

MEDICAL  BOTANY. 

CONIUM  MACULATUM. 

Hemlock. 

PLATE  XL 

A.  PLANT  bearing  the  name  of  Coniiim,  -auvsiov, 
has  been  noted  as  a  poison  from  remote  antiquity.  In 
consequence  of  the  power  which  it  possessed  when 
given  in  sufficient  quantities,  of  destroying  life  in 
a  certain  and  almost  immediate  manner,  it  was 
used  at  Athens  as  a  mode  of  execution  for  those 
condemned  to  death  by  the  tribunal  of  Areopagus. 
Socrates  andPhocion  were  among  the  distinguished 
ancients,  who  suffi?red  death  by  the  agency  of  this 
mortal  poison.      The  accounts  which  have  been 
left  respecting  it  would  lead  us  to  believe  that  its 
operation  was  speedy,  and  unattended  with  any 
violent  or  long  protracted  suffering.     It  was  not 
only  employed  as  an  instrument  of  public  execu- 


114  CONIUM  MACULATU3I. 

tions,  but  was  resorted  to  by  tliose  who  sought  to 
encounter  suicide  in  its  least  formidable  shape. 
Among  other  instances,  that  of  the  Cean  old  men 
is  related  by  ^lian,  who  when  they  had  become 
useless  to  the  state,  and  tu^ed  of  the  infii'mities  of 
life ;  invited  each  other  to  a  banquet,  and  having 
crowned  themselves  as  in  celebration  of  a  joyous 
festival ;  drank  the  Conium,  and  terminated  theii* 
existence  together. 

The  description  which  has  been  left  by  Di- 
oscorides  of  the  Conium,  only  shews  it  to  have 
been  an  umbellate  plant,  his  character  of  which 
might  apply  to  many  species.  The  mention 
made  of  it  by  Latin  writers  under  the  name  of 
Cicuta  are  not  more  satisfactory.  Linnaeus,  in- 
fluenced by  the  noxious  character  of  the  modern 
officinal  Hemlock,  has  appropriated  to  that  plant 
the  name  of  the  Grecian  species,  and  most  subse- 
quent botanists  have  followed  his  example.  Hal- 
ler,  however,  is  of  opinion  that  the  ancient  poison 
was  not  procured  from  this  plant,  but  from  the 
Cicuta  virosa  L.  a  poisonous  aquatic,  much  more 
powerful  and  violent  in  its  operation  than  the 
common  Hemlock.  Lamarck  adopts  the  opin- 
ion of  Linnaeus,  and  believes  that  the  Conium  ma- 
culat'cim  was  really  the  Grecian  poison,  and  that 
its  properties  were  rendered  more  active  by  the 


HEMLOCK.  115 

heat  of  the  cUmate  in  ^vhich  it  grew.  Guersent 
supposes  that  the  poisonous  draught  used  by  the 
Greeks  was  not  the  product  of  a  single  species, 
but  a  compound  prepared  from  several  plants. 

Were  it  not  for  the  tranquillity  and  ease 
which  attended  death  from  the  ancient  hemlock, 
and  which  Plato  has  described  with  interesting 
minuteness,  there  would  not  have  been  much  diffi- 
culty in  supposing  the  Grecian  plant  to  be  the  same 
with  that  known  at  the  present  day.  [jXote  H.]  It 
appears  that  a  large  quantity  was  requisite  to  insure 
death.  The  poison  was  swallowed  in  the  crude 
juice,  recently  expressed  from  the  plant.  Of  tliis 
the  di'aught  taken  by  Phocion  was  lai*ge  enough  to 
cost  twelve  drachmce.^  Socrates  was  prevented 
from  making  a  libation  of  a  part  of  the  contents 
of  Ms  fatal  cup,  by  being  told  that  the  whole  was 
necessary  to  produce  the  consvimmation  of  his  sen- 
tence. A  large  quantity  of  the  modern  hemlock 
might  probably  have  been  equally  fatal,  though 
with  more  violent  symptoms  than  those  which,  if 
Plato  be  correct,  were  experienced  by  the  Atheni- 
an philosopher. 

The  plant,  represented  in  our  plate,  undoubt- 
edly came  to  us  from  Europe.  It  is  now  suffi- 
ciently common  in  tlie  United  States,  about  road 

*  Plutarch,  Life  of  Phocion. 


116  0 ONIUM  MACULATUM. 

sides  and  in  waste  ground,  especially  in  those 
parts  of  the  country  wliich  have  heen  longest  set- 
tled. It  is  usually  found  in  bunches,  and  attains 
the  full  height  of  a  man.  It  flowers  from  June 
until  the  arrival  of  frost. 

The  very  natural  order,  called  Umbellatse  by 
Linnaeus  and  Umbelliferse  by  Jussieu,  to  which 
tliis  plant  and  the  following  one  belong,  is  found 
in  the  class  Pentandria  and  order  Digynia  of  the 
Linnsean  artificial  method. 

The  genus  Conium  of  Limine  us  has  both 
general  and  partial  involucres,  the  latter  being 
halved.     The  fruit  roundish  and  furrowed. 

The  species  maculatum  has  the  fruit  un- 
armed with  the  ridges  Undulated. 

Its  more  complete  description  is  as  follows. 
Root  biennial,  somewhat  fusiform  and  generally 
branched.  Stalk  round,  very  smooth,  striated,  hol- 
low, jointed,  and  more  or  less  marked  with  pur- 
plish spots.  Leaves  two  or  three  times  pinnate, 
of  a  very  bright  green,  with  long,  sheathing  peti- 
oles inserted  on  the  joints  of  the  stem  ;  the  leafets 
pinnatifid  and  toothed.  Flowers  in  terminal 
umbels,  the  general  involucre  with  half  a  dozen 
lanceolate,  reflected  leafets,  the  partial  involucre 
with  three  or  four  situatcvd  on  the  outside.  Flow- 
ers very  small,  white.     Petals  five,  oval  with  their 


HEMLOCK.  117 

points  inflexed.  Stamens  five,  spreading,  about  the 
length  of  the  corolla.  Germ  inferior.  Styles  two 
reflexed  outwardly.  Fruit  roundish-oval,  com- 
pressed, ribbed,  the  ribs  being  transversely  wrin- 
kled or  crenate  ;  separating  into  two  oblong-hem- 
ispherical seeds. 

Hemlock  when  fresh  has  a  strong  nauseous 
odour  and  taste.  If  the  green  leaves  are  distilled, 
the  water  Avliich  collects  in  the  receiver  has  an  in- 
supportably  nauseous  taste,  while  that  which  re- 
mains in  the  retort  is  comparatively  insipid. 
This  cu'cumstance,  and  likewise  the  fact  that  the 
dried  leaves  become  inert  by  age  and  exposure, 
render  it  probable  that  the  chief  medicinal  efficacy 
resides  in  a  volatile  portion  of  the  plant.  Of  the 
more  fixed  ingredients  of  Hemlock,  a  variety  of 
analyses  have  been  made.  The  most  recent  which 
I  have  met  with  is  that  of  Schrader,  who  from  a 
thousand  grains  of  the  plant  obtained  the  following 
substances.  Extractive  S7.3 — Gummy  extract 
S5.2 — Resin  1.5 — Albumen  3.1 — Green  fsecula 
8. — He  also  detected  various  eai'thy  and  alkaline 
salts.  These  however  are  found  to  vary  according 
to  the  soil  in  which  the  plant  grows.  The  vola- 
tile portion,  which  I  obtained  in  water  distilled 
from  the  leaves,  did  not  exhibit  any  essential  oil, 
and  effected  no  change  in  the  colour  of  litmus.     It 


118  CONIUM  MACULATUM. 

was  not  altered  by  sulphate  of  iron  nor  acetite  of 
lead. 

The  Conmm  maculatum  is  a  narcotic  poison, 
though  not  of  the  most  powerful  kind.  Instances  of 
fatal  effects  from  it  have  been  recorded  by  Dr.  Wat- 
son m  the  Philosophical  Transactions,  and  by  sev- 
eral other  writers.  A  remarkable  case  of  tliis  sort, 
which  occurred  in  Spain,  is  cited  by  Orfila  in  his 
Traite  des  poisons.  But  there  is  scarcely  any 
narcotic  plant  respecting  the  character  of  which 
such  various  and  opposite  testimony  has  been  ad- 
duced by  medical  writers.  Even  the  experiments 
of  the  same  individual  are  apt  to  present  diiferent 
results  from  its  use,  unless  great  care  be  taken  in 
the  collection  and  preparation  of  the  medicine. 
The  truth  is,  the  plant  varies  exceedingly  at  differ- 
ent ages,  and  in  different  places  of  growth,  and  the 
strength  of  its  preparations  is  greatly  influenced  by 
external  circumstances. 

When  the  green  leaves  of  a  mature  plant 
which  has  grown  in  the  sun,  or  the  juice  of  these 
leaves,  either  crude,  or  properly  inspissated,  is 
taken  into  the  stomach ;  the  following  symptoms, 
if  the  quantity  has  been  sufficient,  will  rarely  fail 
to  take  place  ;  viz.  a  dizziness  of  the  head  and 
nausea  of  the  stomach,  a  sense  of  fullness  in  the 
eyes  and  diminished  power  of  vision,  together  with 


HEMLOCK.  119 

a  general  faiutness  or  iiuiscular  weakness  of  the 
whole  hody.  These  sensations  usually  begin  in 
the  course  of  half  an  hour.  If  the  dose  has  been 
moderate,  they  will  for  the  most  part  disappear 
in  the  course  of  half  a  day,  and  seldom  continue 
beyond  twenty  four  hours.  Larger  doses  occasion 
more  severe  symptoms,  as  it  happens  with  other 
narcotics. 

The  idiosyncrasies  of  different  persons  render 
them  variously  susceptible  of  the  action  of  Hem- 
lock. Some  are  but  slightly  affected  by  a  quanti- 
ty, which  would  prove  dangerous  to  others. 

The  Hemlock  has  been  for  many  years  a  sub- 
ject of  attention  with  physicians,  and  has  been 
found  a  remedy  of  importance  in  several  diseases. 
It  would  occupy  a  volume  to  state  the  whole  of 
the  evidences  which  have  been  given  for  and 
against  its  use.  I  shall  only  mention  those  com- 
plaints in  which  it  has  been  most  employed,  and 
pai-ticularly  in  this  country. 

In  Jaundice. — Dr.  Fisher,  President  of  the 
Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  in  his  paper  on  the 
narcotic  vegetables,  bears  unequivocal  testimony 
in  favour  of  the  efficacy  of  Hemlock  in  this  com- 
plaint. He  was  first  induced  to  employ  it  with 
a  view  to  its  relaxing  effect  in  facilitatinir  the 
passage   of  biliary   calculi.       Afterwards    it   was 


16 


120  CONIUM  MACULATUM. 

given  by  him  to  many  icteric  patients,  and  with 
the  exception  of  three  complicated  cases,  it  never 
failed  in  his  hands  or  within  liis  knowledge  to  re- 
move the  disease.  Dr.  Jackson,  Professor  of  the 
Theory  and  Practice  of  Physic  in  our  University, 
informs  me  that  he  has  found  it  of  great  utility  in 
jaundice,  and  that  except  in  one  or  two  instances, 
it  has  always  effected  the  cure  of  those  cases, 
wliich  proved  susceptible  of  relief  from  any  medi- 
cine. I  have  repeatedly  employed  it  in  the  same 
complaint  with  indubitable  advantage.  The  dose 
should  be  gradually  increased  until  its  effects  are 
distinctly  felt  in  the  head  and  stomach.  This 
inconvenience  is  temporary,  and  will  be  preferred 
by  most  patients  to  the  evil  of  a  mercurial  ptya- 
lism.  The  yellowness  of  the  skin  and  eyes,  in  fa- 
vourable cases,  begins  to  disappear  at  an  early  pe- 
riod, frequently  by  the  second  day. — The  forego- 
ing practice  in  jaundice  is  not  new,  having  been 
employed  in  Sweden  by  Rosenstein,  and  in  other 
places. 

In  tic  doloureux.  In  a  discourse  on  this 
painful  disease  by  Dr.  Jackson,  published  in  the 
New  England  Journal,  Vol.  II.  a  number  of  cases 
are  detailed,  in  which  perfect  relief  was  afforded  by 
the  Hemlock  given  in  large  doses,  and  rapidly  in- 
creased until  a  decided  effect  upon  the  system  was 


HEMLOCK.  121 

felt.  Dr.  Jackson  recommends  to  begin  with  a 
single  grain  of  the  extract,  and  to  increase  to  five 
grains  for  the  second  or  third  dose  ;  afterwards  to 
add  five  grains  to  every  dose  until  a  full  effect  is 
felt  on  the  system.  In  this  discourse  he  cites  the 
experience  of  Dr.  Fothergill,  who  had  employed 
the  Conium  successfully  in  several  cases  of  tliis 
disease  under  a  different  name.  It  appears  also 
that  some  French  physicians,  whose  writings  I 
have  not  seen,  as  Chaussier  and  Dumeril,  have  con- 
firmed the  success  of  our  plant  in  tic  doloureux. 
It  must  be  confessed  however,  although  the  Hem- 
lock is  more  successful  in  tliis  complaint  than  per- 
haps  any  internal  medicine,  which  has  been  tried ; 
yet  there  are  cases  of  such  obstinacy,  as  wholly  ta 
baffle  the  powers  of  its  operation. 

In  scliirrus  and  cancer.  Since  the  time  of 
Storck,  this  medicine  has  been  long  and  abundant- 
ly tried,  but  without  any  increase  of  reputation. 
The  experience  of  modern  physicians,  and  among 
others  of  31.  Alibert,  who  tried  it  in  more  than  a 
hundi^ed  cases  in  the  hospital  of  St.  Louis,  have 
pretty  well  established  the  fact,  that  it  is  wholly  in- 
capable of  cm*ing  either  schirrus  or  cancer  of  the 
confirmed  and  genuine  kind.  It  is  however  still  ad- 
ministered, rather  with  a  view  to  its  anodyne  and 
pallintive  eftect,  than  any  expectation  of  radical  ben- 


iSS  CONIUM  MACULATUM. 

efit.     Ill  tliis  way  its  external  use  is  sometimes 
serviceable. 

In  old  sypliilitic  affections,  it  is  occasionally 
useful.  It  has  been  recommended  in  hooping 
cough,  but  it  is  not  a  perfectly  safe  medicine  for 
cliildren,  owing  to  thedifliculty  of  ascertaining  when 
its  constitutional  effects  take  place  in  them. — I 
am  informed  on  the  best  medical  authority,  that  it  is 
of  great  use  in  some  cases  of  hemicrania,  which 
ai'e  not  regularly  intermittent. 

The  most  common  form  of  preserving  the 
Hemlock  for  use,  as  well  as  the  most  convenient  for 
its  exhibition,  is  that  of  the  inspissated  juice  or  ex- 
tract. It  is  well  known  however,  that  the  extracts 
kept  in  our  shops  differ  materially  in  their  strength, 
so  that  in  beginning  from  a  new  parcel,  the  physi- 
cian can  seldom  predict  the  degree  of  operation  of 
liis  first  doses.  In  some  instances  very  great  quan- 
tities have  been  taken  without  the  least  effect. 
The  extract  is  apt  to  prove  inert  when  the  plant 
is  gathered  too  young,  when  the  evaporation  is  con- 
ducted with  too  much  heat,  when  a  decoction  of 
the  dried  plant  has  been  evaporated  instead  of  the 
fresh  leaves,  and  lastly  when  the  extract  itself  has 
become  old.  To  give  the  extract  its  due  strength, 
the  plant  should  be  collected  at  full  maturity,  while 
in  flower,  or  in  fruit  provided  it  remains  green,  and 


HEMLOCK.  123 

the  juice  or  the  decoction  should  he  evaporated  at 
the  heat  of  hoiling  salt  water.  The  stock  should  be 
renewed  every  year.  A  suitable  dose  lor  commence- 
ment is  from  one  to  five  grains.  This  may  he  in- 
creased at  every  time  of  taking  it,  until  its  constitu- 
tional effects  are  felt.  In  beginning  the  use  of  a 
new  paiTcl,  more  caution  is  requisite  at  first,  than 
after  its  strength  has  been  tested. 

The  JEthusa  cynapium,  an  umbellate  plant 
very  common  in  Boston,  has  sometimes  been  mis- 
taken for  Hemlock,  wliich  it  considerably  resem- 
bles. It  is  a  smaller  plant,  with  its  stalk  not  spot- 
ted. It  differs  also  in  having  no  general  involucre, 
wliile  its  paitial  one  is  very  long. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Conium  IMaculatum,  Linn^us.  Sp,  PL — 'Woodville,  t.  22. — 
Curtis,  Fl.  Lond.  i.  1 7.- — Smith,  Engl.  Bot.  t.  1191. — Pursh,  i. 
195. — Cicuta  vulgaris,  Morison,  Umb.  t.  6. — Parkinson,  Theatr. 
933. — Ciciita  major,  Lamarck,  Eiicydopedie  Mtthodique.—'^i- 
cutaria  vulgaris,  Clusius,  Hist.  200. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Murray,  Apparatus  viedicamimimy  i.  322. — Cullen,  Mat.  Med. 
ii.  263. — FoTHERGiLL,  Mcd.  Obs.  iii.  400. — Hunter  on  the  ve- 
nereal, 108, 175, 199,  247,  &c. — Home,  J2n;ia/s  Med.  iii.  66. — But- 
ter, Med.  Comment,  i.  373. — Fisher,  Mem.  Mas.  Soc,  i. — Jack- 
son, JNI  Engl.  Journ.  ii.  105. — Guersent.  Did.  Sciences  vMedi- 
cales,  V.  208. — Orfila,  ToxicologiCf  iii.  279,  &c.  &c.  &c. 


124*  CONIUM  MACULATUM. 

PLATE  XL 

Fig.  1.  *3[  branch  of  Coniummaculatum. 
Fig.  2.  Flower  magnified. 
Fig.  3.  Fruit  magnified. 


t 


r.'.Aii. 


r  frff  /r/         >*/ '  /^/rt/frf  /rf 


CICUTA  3IACULATA. 


American  Hemlock. 

PLATE  XIL 

JLt  is  a  rule  sanctioned  by  the  observations  of 
medical  botanists,  that  umbelliferous  plants,  which 
ffrow  in  or  about  the  water,  are  of  a  poisonous  na- 
ture. Tliis  rule  will  generally  be  found  correct,  al- 
though it  has  exceptions.  As  far  as  aquatic  plants 
of  this  natural  order  have  been  examined,  their 
properties,  in  a  great  majority  of  instances,  have 
been  found,  more  or  less  of  a  deleterious  kind. 
The  Cicuta  virosa  of  Europe  is  a  highly  poisonous 
plant,  possessing  such  formidable  activity  that  its 
internal  use  is  hardly  attempted  in  medicine.  An 
American  species,  the  Cicuta  maculala^  the  sub- 
ject of  this  article,  is  very  closely  allied  in  its  bo- 
tanical habit  to  tlie  European  plant,  and  was  equal- 
ly deserving  of  suspicion  from  its  appearance,  al- 
though the  public  were  not  generally  aware  of  its 
true  character.     Within  a  few  years  past,  several 


126  CICUTA  MACULATA. 

instances  have  been  brought  to  light  of  fatal  ef- 
fects ensuing  from  tliis  plant  being  incautiously 
eaten  by  children.  It  is  therefore  necessary  that 
the  species  should  be  suitably  designated,  that  a 
source  of  so  much  danger  may  be  known  and 
avoided. 

The  Cicuta  maculata,  to  which  I  have  applied 
the  name  of  American  Hemlock,  not  having 
heard  any  common  appellation  except  that  of 
Snakeweed,  inhabits  wet  meadows  and  banks,  from 
the  northern  to  the  southern  limits  of  the  United 
States,  flowering  in  July  and  August.  It  is  so  fre- 
quently cut  with  hay,  among  which  it  often  grows 
in  large  quantities,  that  we  might  expect  to  see  its 
deleterious  properties  operating  on  domestic  cat- 
tle, were  it  not  that  their  bodies  are  probably  less 
susceptible  of  its  poison  than  ours.  The  Euro- 
pean Cicuta,  above  mentioned,  is  highly  noxious  to 
man,  and  to  some  domestic  animals,  yet  goats  and 
sheep  eat  it  with  impunity. 

The  genus  Cicuta  differs  from  other  genera 
of  umbellate  plants  in  having  no  general  involu- 
cre, a  short,  partial  involucre,  and  a  fruit  which  is 
nearly  orhicular,  compressed  and  furrowed.* 

*  This  description  of  the  fruit  agrees  with  the  present  species 
and  also  with  Cicuta  bulbifera,  a  smaller  species  not  unconnnon  about 
Boston.    The  Cicuta  virosa  of  Europe  I  have  never  seen. 


AMERICAN    HEMLOCK.  1S7 

The  species  maculata  has  a  fascicled  root  and 
oblong  leaves  with  niiicronate  serratures. 

The  class  and  orders  are  as  in  the  last  ai*ticle. 

This  plant  is  so  remarkable  for  the  form  of  its 
root,  that  had  not  the  name  of  maculata  been  con- 
firmed to  me  by  the  best  authorities,  I  should 
have  thought  that  of  fasciciilata  to  be  greatly  pre- 
ferable. This  root  is  composed  of  a  number  of 
large,  oblong,  fleshy  tubers,  diverg;ing  from  the 
base  of  the  stem,  and  frequently  being  found  of 
the  size  and  length  of  the  finger.  The  root  is  pe- 
rennial, and  has  a  strong,  penetrating  smell  and 
taste.  In  vai'ious  parts  of  the  bark  it  contains 
distinct  cells  or  cavities,  wliich  are  filled  with  a 
yellowish  resinous  juice.  The  plant  is  from  three 
to  six  feet  high.  Its  stem  is  smooth,  branched  at 
top,  hollow,  jointed,  striated,  and  commonly  of  a 
pm*ple  colour,  except  when  the  plant  groM  s  in  the 
shade,  in  which  case  it  is  green.  The  leaves  are 
compound,  the  largest  being  about  tlu-ee  times  pin- 
nate, the  uppermost  only  ternate.  Most  of  the  pe- 
tioles are  furnished  with  long  obtuse  stipules, 
which  clasp  the  stem  with  theu*  base.  Leafets  ob- 
long acuminate,  serrate,  the  serratures  very  acute  or 
mucronated.  The  veins  end  in  the  notches,  and  not 
at  the  points  of  the  serratures.      The  flowers  groAV 

ill  umbels  of  a  middling  size,  without  a  general  invo- 
17 


128  CICUTA  MACULATA. 

lucre.  The  partial  umbels  are  furnished  with  in- 
volucres of  very  short,  narrow,  acute  leafets.  The 
distinctness  or  separation  of  these  umbels  charac- 
terizes this  plant  at  a  distance  among  other  plants 
of  its  kind,  whose  umbels  are  more  crowded.  Ca- 
IjiL  of  five  very  minute  segments.  Petals  five, 
white,  obovate  with  inflected  points.  Fruit  nearly 
orbicular,  compressed,  ten  furrowed,  crowned  at 
top,  and  separating  into  two  semicircular  seeds. 

The  fleshy  root  of  the  Cicuta  maculata,  when 
pressed,  emits  from  its  divided  extremities  a  viscid 
yellowish  juice  of  a  strong  penetrating  taste.  This 
juice  dissolves  in  alcohol,  from  which  it  is  precipi- 
tated by  water.  When  distilled,  a  thick  volatile 
oil  collects  in  the  receiver  in  the  form  of  a  film 
upon  the  surfiice  of  the  water.  The  remainder  of 
the  juice  yields  a  resin  of  a  dark  orange  colour, 
fusible  and  inflammable.  The  decoction  of  the 
root  affords  a  pearl  coloured  fluid,  not  very  sensi- 
ble to  the  tests  of  mucus,  fsecula,  tannin  or  ex- 
tractive. 

In  August  1814,  an  account  was  sent  to  Bos- 
ton by  Dr.  Stockbridge  of  Bath  (Maine)  of  the  ef- 
fect produced  on  thre«  boys  by  eating  a  poisonous 
root,  which  they  had  dug  up,  supposing  it  to  be- 
long to  the  plant  called  "Life  of  man."  One  of 
them  was  siezed  with  violent  convulsions,  frothed 


AMERICAN  HEMLOCK.  ISO 

at  the  mouth,  and  died  in  an  hour  and  a  half.   The 
other  two  were  affected  with  vomiting,  stupor,  dil- 
atation of  the  pupil,  great  paleness  and  universal 
distress  ;  wliich  symptoms  disappeiii'ed  in  one  in 
twenty  four,  and  in  the  other  in  thirty  six  hours. 
It  was  supposed  that  the  first  boy  had  swallowed 
about  a  drachm  of  the  root,  and  the  others  about 
half  that  quantity.     A  specimen  of  the  plant  was 
sent  to  me  at  the  same  time  with  the  account,  and 
proved  to  be  the  Cicuta  maculata.      Dr.  Stock- 
bridge's  letter,  wliich  was  published  in  the  New 
England  Journal,  contains  two  other  cases  of  the 
effect  of  tliis  root,  in  one  of  which  it  proved  fatal. 
Shortly  after  the  publication  of  the  above  facts, 
an  article  appeared  in  the  New  York  Medical  Re- 
pository, containing  an   account   by   Dr.  Ely   of 
Dutchess  county,  of  the  effects   of  an  unknown 
poisonous  root,  supposed  to  be  the   wliite   helle- 
bore.     Three  small  boys,  who  had   gone   into  a 
meadow  in  search  of  sweet  flag  root,  had  dug  up 
and   eaten   another  root    by    mistake.      Two    of 
them  died  in  convulsions  in   about  an  hour  after 
they  had  swallowed  it.     They  discharged  much 
blood  and  froth  from  the  mouth  and  nose ;  theii' 
eyes  were  fixed,  with  the  pupils  dilated,  and  a  rapid 
motion  of  the  eye  lids.     The  third  boy  vomited, 
and  recovered.     When  taken  to  the  place  the  next 


430  CICUTA  MACULATA. 

day,  he  pointed  out  the  spot  where  they  had  dug 
the  root,  and  where  a  considerable  quantity  of  it 
remained.  Some  of  the  root  was  planted  by  Dr. 
Mitchill  in  the  New  York  Hospital  garden,  where 
it  vegetated  and  produced  flowers  and  fruit.  It 
turned  out  to  be  the  Cicuta  maculata  of  Linnseus. 
In  the  same  article,  is  a  letter  from  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg, stating  that  he  had  received  specimens  from 
Savannah  and  from  West  Pennsylvania,  where  it 
had  destroyed  several  persons,  who  ate  it  by  mis- 
take for  angelica.  All  the  specimens  were  simi- 
lar, so  that  there  could  be  no  doubt  of  the  identity 
of  the  plant.  In  the  same  letter.  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
remarks,  that  he  had  reason  to  believe  that  the  poi- 
sonous quality  of  the  root  is  altered  by  cultivation 
in  a  dry  soil. 

The  foregoing  facts  are  sufficient  to  establish 
the  poisonous  character  of  the  plant  under  consid- 
eration. They  may  also  serve  to  shew  the  im- 
portance of  accurate  descriptions  and  faithful  en- 
gravings of  noxious  vegetables,  which  may  enable 
even  unlearned  observers  to  distinguish  them  at 
sight.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  cases,  like 
those  above  described,  have  occurred  in  repeated 
instances,  which  have  never  met  the  public  eye. 
Perhaps  also  from  an  ignorance  of  the  real  cause 
of  the  symptoms,  the  proper  remedies  have  been 


AMERICAN  HEMLOCK.  131 

neglected.  The  plant  is  extremely  common  in 
many  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  I  helieve  its 
true  character  is  not  generally  suspected.  A  very 
respectahle  physician  informed  me,  that  it  was 
used  in  his  vicinity  as  a  gargle  for  sore  throats,  hy 
people  unsuspicious  of  its  qualities. 

Since  the  discovery  of  its  narcotic  properties, 
the  Cicuta  has  been  used  in  small  doses,  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  the  conium,  by  one  or  two  practitioners  in 
this  place.  Its  effects  were  very  analogous  to  those 
of  the  true  hemlock,  as  far  as  they  were  observed, 
but  more  powerful.  A  primary  symptom,  which 
attended  a  large  dose,  was  nausea  and  vomiting. 

The  treatment  of  persons  poisoned  by  this 
plant,  as  in  the  case  of  other  narcotics,  should  pri- 
marily consist  in  a  thorough  evacuation  of  the  stom- 
ach. As  there  commonly  exists  a  spontaneous 
tendency  to  vomit,  occasioned  by  the  poison  itself, 
this  should  be  assisted  by  mechanical  means,  by 
irritating  the  throat  with  the  finger,  or  with  a  feath- 
er. Of  emetics,  the  sulphate  of  zinc  is  to  be  pre- 
ferred, on  account  of  its  speedy  operation.  Cas- 
tor oil  or  infusion  of  senna,  should  be  given  as 
soon  as  vomiting  has  taken  place.  The  vegetable 
acids,  such  as  lemon  juice  or  vinegar,  have  a  neu- 
tralizing influence  on  the  narcotic,  and  are  there- 
fore useful.     Strong  coffee  and  tea  are  the  best  an- 


132  CICUTA  MACULATA. 

tidotes  for  the  stupor,  and  should  be  promptly  ad- 
ministered. In  violent  cases,  bloodletting  should 
be  resorted  to.  As  most  narcotic  poisons  act  by 
destroying  the  functions  of  the  brain,  respiration 
being  suspended,  because  it  is  under  the  influence 
of  that  organ  ;  3Ir.  Brodie  is  of  opinion,  that  in 
some  cases,  life  might  be  preserved  by  keeping  up 
artificial  respiration,  after  death  has  api^ai-ently 
taken  place. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Cicuta  maculata.  Linn^us  Sp.pl. — ^Pursh,  i  195.«— JEgopo- 
diiim  foliis  laiiceolatis,  acuminatis,  serratis.  Gronovius,  Virg. 
32. — Angelica  Caribsearum  elatior,  olusatri  folio  ;  flore  albo  ; 
vseminibus  luteis,  striatis,  ciimiui  odore  et  sapore  ?  Paukenetj 
Mm.  31,  Phijt.  t.  76,/.  I. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

SciicEPF,  36. — Bart.  Coll.  18,  46. — Stockbridge,  Mw 
Engl.  Journcdf  iii.  334.     Mitchill,  Ely  and  Muhlenberg. 

Jled.  Repository,  xvii.  303. 


j>f  jrju. 


Kr 


t  >7  f/ //////'/      /r//o  /"  ///'f 


KALMIA  LATIFOLIA. 


Mountain  laurel. 

*  PLATE  xm. 

A  HE  Swedish  botanist,  Peter  Kalm,  a  pupil  of 
Linnseus,  who  travelled  in  North  America  in 
1748 — 9,  has  had  the  honor  of  giving  name  to  one 
of  the  most  elegant  genera  of  flowering  shrubs 
which  our  continent  produces.  The  genus  named 
Kalmia  bj  Linnseus,  includes  several  species,  of 
singular  beaut} ,  among  which  the  Mountain  lau- 
rel is  much  the  largest  and  most  elegant,  as  well  as 
the  one  whose  properties  have  received  most  atten- 
tion. Its  occm'rence  in  the  United  States  is  very 
frequent,  and  its  common  appellations  of  com'se  va- 
rious. The  names  o^  Laurel,  Lambkill,  Ivy,  Spoon- 
wood,  and  Calico  bush,  it  seems,  are  applied  to  it  in 
vai^ious  parts  of  tlie  country.  This  shrub  grows  in 
the  southern  parts  of  New  Hampshire,  and  is  oc- 
casionally met  with  throughout  3Iassachusetts. 
In  the  Middle  States  it  becomes   moj*e  frequent, 


134  KAL.MIA  LATIFOLIA. 

and  it  is  said  to  extend  near  to  the  southern  lim- 
its of  the  Union.  Michaux,  in  his  account  of  the 
forest  trees,  states,  that  it  is  particularly  abundant 
through  the  whole  range  of  Allegany  mountains, 
upon  the  borders  and  near  the  sources  of  rivers. 
It  gradually  diminishes  however  on  both  sides  as 
these  rivers  approach  to  the  sea,  or  to  theu*  con- 
fluence with  the  great  western  streams. 

The  botanical  character  of  the  genus  consists 
in  a  jive  parted  calyx^  a  hypocrateriforni  corolla, 
containing  ten  depressions  in  its  border,  in  which 
the  anthers  are  lodged  ;  a  capsule  jive  celled. 

The  specific  character  is,  that  the  leaves  are 
scattered,  petioled,  oval  and  smooth  ;  the  corymbs 
terminal,  viscid  and  pubescent. 

Class  Becandria,  order  Monogynia.  Natural 
orders  Bicornes,  Linn.  Mhododendra,  Juss. 

The  height  of  the  Kalniia  latifolia  is  generally 
that  of  a  shrub,  sometimes  however  attaining  to 
the  altitude  of  a  small  tree.  Its  leaves  are  ev- 
ergreen, coriaceous,  very  smooth,  with  the  under 
side  somewhat  palest.  Their  form  is  oval,  acute 
and  entire  ;  their  insertion  by  scattered  petioles,  on 
the  sides  and  extremities  of  the  branches.  The 
flowers  vary  from  white  to  red ;  they  grow  in  termi- 
nal corymbs,  simple  or  compound  with  opposite 
branches,  and  made  up  of  slender  peduncles.  These 


MOUNTAIN  LAUREL.  135 

are  invested  with  a  glutinous  pubescence,  and  sup- 
ported at  base  by  ovate,  acuminate  bractes.  The 
calyx  is  small,  five  parted,  persistent,  with  oval,  a- 
cutc  segments.  The  corolla  is  monopetalous,  with 
a  cylindrical  tube,  a  spreading  disc,  and  an  erect,  five 
cleft  margin.  At  the  circumference  of  the  disc 
on  the  inside,  are  ten  depressions  or  pits,  accom- 
panied with  corresponding  prominences  on  the 
outside.  In  these  depressions  the  anthers  are 
found  lodged  at  the  time  when  the  flower  expands. 
The  stnmens  originate  from  the  base  of  the  corol- 
la, and  bend  outwardly,  so  as  to  lodge  their  an- 
thers in  the  cells  of  the  corolla.  From  this  con- 
finement they  liberate  themselves  during  the  pe- 
riod of  flowering  and  strike  against  the  sides  of 
the  stigma.  The  germ  is  roundish,  the  style  lon- 
ger than  the  corolla  and  declined,  the  stigma  ob- 
tuse. Capsule  roundish,  depressed,  five  celled 
and  five  valved,  w  ith  numerous  small  seeds. 

I  have  examined  chemically  the  leaves  of  the 
Kalmia,  gathered  at  the  time  the  shrub  was  in 
fruit.  The  following  constituent  principles  were 
found  to  exist  in  them. 

1.  Vegetable  mucus.     This  exists  in  large  quan- 
tities,  and  is  dissolved  in  water  both  by  infusion 
and   decoction,  rendering  it  extremely  mucilagi- 
nous or  ropy.     AVhen  alcohol  is  added  to  this  so- 
18 


136  KALMIA  LATIFOLIA. 

lution,  the  mucus  separates  in  the  form  of  a  floe- 
culent  coagulum,  wliich  is  tough  and  stringy,  and 
on  drying  has  a  brownish  colour.  When  chewed, 
it  soon  fills  the  mouth  with  mucilage. 

Silicated  potash  rendered  the  upper  stratum  of 
the  liquid  dark  and  opaque,  but  without  any  pre- 
cipitate like  that  which  takes  place  in  the  mucilage 
of  gum. 

%.  Tannin.  Tliis  is  readily  thrown  down  from 
the  decoction  and  tincture  by  gelatin.  The  sul- 
phate of  iron  strikes  with  it  a  very  black  colour. 

3.  Resin.  Tliis  also  exists  plentifully.  It 
communicates  to  alcohol  a  reddish  colour,  and  is 
instantly  precipitated  from  it  by  water.  When 
obtained  pure,  it  is  of  a  reddish  cast,  fusible,  in- 
flammable and  mod-erately  bitter. 

I  have  not  detected  any  extractive,  properly 
so  called,  in  these  leaves.  When  the  muriate  of 
tin  is  added  to  the  decoction,  it  separates  a  very 
copious  yellow  precipitate.  This  however  is  ow- 
ing to  the  mucus.  If  alcohol  be  first  added  to  the 
decoction,  and  the  coagulum  which  it  forms  with- 
drawn ;  the  fluid  no  longer  gives  a  precipitate  with 
muriate  of  tin,  although  it  readily  yields  one  to 
gelatin. 

Distillation  with  w  ater  affords  a  mild  fluid  with 
little  taste  or  odour. 


MOUNTAIN  LAUREL.  137 

The  Kalmia  latifolia,  together  with  some  oth- 
er species  of  its  genus,  has  long  had  the  reputa- 
tion, in  various  parts  of  the  country,  of  heing  poi- 
sonous to  certain  domestic  animals.  Cateshy  says 
of  it,  that  "  deer  feed  on  its  green  leaves  with  im- 
punity ;  yet  when  cattle  and  sheep,  by  severe  win- 
ters deprived  of  better  food,  feed  on  the  leaves  of 
this  plant,  a  great  many  of  them  die  annually." 

Kalm,  the  Swedish  traveller,  who  gave  name 
to  this  genus,  says  of  Kalmia  latifolia,  "  The  leaves 
ai'e  poison  to  some  animals,  and  food  for  others  ; 
experience  has  taught  the  people,  that  when  sheep 
eat  of  these  leaves,  they  either  die  immediately, 
or  fall  very  sick,  and  recover  with  great  difficulty. 
The  young  and  more  tender  sheep  are  killed  by  a 
small  portion,  but  the  older  ones  can  bear  a  stron- 
ger dose.  Yet  this  food  will  likewise  prove  mor- 
tal to  them,  if  they  take  too  much  of  it.  The 
same  noxious  effect  it  shews  in  regard  to  calves 
which  eat  too  much  of  the  leaves ;  they  either  die, 
or  do  not  recover  easily.  I  can  remember  that  in 
the  year  1748  some  calves  ate  of  the  leaves  ;  they 
fell  very  sick,  swelled,  foamed  at  the  mouth  and 
could  hardly  stand  ;  how  ever,  they  were  cured  by 
giving  them  gmipowder  and  other  medicines.  The 
sheep  are  most  exposed  to  be  tempted  with  these 
leaves  in  winter,  for  after  having  been  kept  m  sta- 


138  KALMIA  LATIFOLIA. 

bles  for  some  months,  they  are  greedy  of  all  greens, 
especially  if  the  snow  still  lies  upon  the  ground, 
and  therefore  the  green  but  poisonous  leaves  of 
the  Kalmia,  are  to  them  very  tempting.  HorseSj 
oxen  and  cows,  which  have  eaten  them,  have  like- 
wise been  very  ill  after  the  meal,  and  thougli  none 
of  them  ever  died  of  eating  these  leaves,  yet  most 
people  believed,  that  if  they  took  too  great  a  por- 
tion of  them,  death  would  certainly  be  the  result." 
"  On  the  other  hand,  the  leaves  of  the  Kalmia  ai*e 
the  food  of  stags,  when  the  snow  covers  the  ground 
and  hides  all  other  provisions  from  them.  There- 
fore, if  they  be  shot  in  winter,  theu*  bowels  are 
found  filled  with  these  leaves,  and  it  is  very  extra- 
ordinary, that  if  those  bowels  are  given  to  dogs, 
they  become  quite  stupid,  and,  as  it  were,  intoxi- 
cated, and  often  full  so  sick,  that  they  seem  to  be 
at  the  point  of  death  ;  but  the  people  who  have 
eaten  the  venison  have  not  felt  the  least  indisposi- 
tion."— Travels  in  JSTorth  America,  vol.  i. 

There  is  a  common  belief,  that  the  flesh  of  the 
American  Pheasant  or  Partridge  is  at  certain 
times  imbued  with  a  poisonous  quality.  This 
circumstance  has  been  attributed  (I  know  not  with 
what  evidence)  to  their  feeding  in  winter  upon  the 
buds  of  the  Kalmia.  Mr.  Wilson,  the  ornitholo- 
gist, informs  us,  that  he  has  sometimes  found  the 


MOUNTAIN  LAUREL.  139 

crops  of  these  birds  distended  almost  entirely  with 
laurel  buds  ;  but  that  he  has  eaten  freely  of  the 
flesh  of  these  very  birds,  without  any  ill  conse- 
quence wliatever. 

On  the  human  system,  the  Kalmia  has  been 
also  said  to  manifest  a  deleterious  influence.  The 
late  Professor  Barton  has  adduced  some  evidences 
of  its  noxious  character.*  Re  states  that  the  In- 
dians make  use  of  a  decoction  of  the  leaves  to  de- 
stroy themselves.  In  an  Inaugural  Dissertation 
on  two  species  of  Kalmia,  the  latifolia  and  angus- 
tifolia,  by  Dr.  G.  K.  Thomas,  we  are  told  that  the 
leaves  of  these  shrubs  possess  a  decidedly  narcotic 
property.  I  have  not  recently  seen  Dr.  Thomas' 
Dissertation,  and  therefore  quote  from  memory 
and  from  extracts.  From  his  experiments  howev- 
er it  appeared,  that  a  very  small  quantity  was  suffi- 
cient to  produce  sensible  inconvenience.  Thirty 
drops  of  a  strong  decoction,  given  six  times  a  day, 
are  said  to  have  occasioned  so  much  vertigo,  as  to 
render  it  necessary  to  diminish  the  frequency  of 
its  exhibition. 

From  my  own  experience,  I  am  not  disposed 
to  tliink  very  liighly  of  the  nfUTotic  power  of  tlie 

*  Dr.  Barton  states,  that  a  few  drops  of  the  tincture  poured  upon 
the  body  of  a  large  and  vigorous  rattlesnake,  killed  the  reptile  in  a 
very  short  time. 


14)0  KALMIA  LATIFOLIA. 

Kalmia.  I  have  repeatedly  chewed  and  swallowed 
a  green  leaf  of  the  largest  size,  without  perceiving 
the  least  effect  in  consequence.  I  have  also  seen 
the  powder,  freshly  made  from  leaves  recently  dri- 
ed, taken  in  doses  of  from  ten  to  twenty  grains, 
without  any  subsequent  inconvenience  or  percep- 
tible eifect.  The  taste  of  these  leaves  is  perfectly 
mild  and  mucilaginous,  being  less  disagreeable 
than  that  of  most  of  our  common  forest  leaves. 

I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the  noxious  effect 
of  the  Kalmia  upon  young  grazing  animals  may 
be  in  some  measure  attributed  to  its  indigestible 
quality,  owing  to  the  quantity  of  resin  contained 
in  the  leaves. 

An  ointment  made  of  the  powdered  leaves  has 
been  recommended  in  tinea  capitis  and  some  oth- 
er cutaneous  affections.  I  have  seen  an  eruption, 
very  nuich  resembling  psora,  removed  by  it. 

The  wood  of  the  Kalmia  is  hard  and  dense,  ap- 
proaching in  its  character  to  that  of  box.  It  is 
much  used  for  the  handles  of  mechanics'  tools,  ^c. 
and  it  has  even  been  employed  as  a  material  for 
musical  instruments.  As  an  ornamental  shrub,  this 
species  stands  in  the  highest  rank,  and  by  the  fre- 
quency of  its  growth  and  the  brilliancy  of  its  flow- 
ers, it  contributes  in  a  great  degree  to  the  ele- 
gance of  the  natural  scenery  in  those  mountains 


MOUNTAIN  LAUREL.  141 

and  woods,  which  it  inhabits.  When  cultivated 
in  gardens,  it  requires  a  soil  which  is  somewhat 
moist,  and  a  shady  or  northern  aspect. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Kalmia  latifolia,  Liiv.  Sp.  pi. — Curtis,  Bot.  Mag,  t.  175. — 
MiCHAUx/.  Jirhres  Jm'estiers,  iii.  147,  t.  5. — Pursh  i.  296. — Cha- 
msedaphne  foliis  tini,  &c. — Catesby,  Carolinafi[.t.9S, — Ledum 
floribus  bullatis.  &c.  Trew,  t.  38. — Cistiis  chamserhododendros, 
&C.  PtUKENET,  Fhijt.  t.  579ff.  6. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Kalm,  fr«reZs,  i.  335,  &c. — Bart.  Coll.  i.  18,  48;  ii.  26.— 
Thaciier,  Disp,  247. — Thomas,  Inaugural  dissertation. 

PLATE  XIIL 

Fig.  1.  Branches  of  Kalmia  latifolia  with  jiouoers  and  fruit. 

Fig.  2.  Stamens. 

Fig.  3.  Caly^Jc  and  pistil. 


SPIGELIA  MARILANDICA. 


Carolina  Fink  root. 

PLATE  XIV. 

We  are  told  by  different  writers,  that  this 
fine  plant  is  a  native  of  all  the  southern  states 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Georgia  and  Louisiana, 
growing  in  rich  soils,  especially  about  the  borders 
of  woods.  It  does  not  bear  the  severity  of  a  nor- 
thern winter.  For  my  living  specimens  I  was  in- 
debted to  my  excellent  and  learned  friend,  the 
late  Dr.  James  Macbride,  of  Charleston,  S.  C. 

The  genus  Spigelia  has  a  funnel  shaped  corol- 
la and  a  capsule,  which  is  double,  two  celled  and 
many  seeded.  Tlie  species  Marilandica  is  peren- 
nial, with  a  simple  stem  and  opposite  leaves. 

Cldss  Pentandria ;  order  Monogynia.  Natural 
orders  Stellatw,  Lin.  Gentianw,  Jnss. 

The  root  of  the  Spigelia  Marilandica  is  peren- 
nial, with  many  fibrous  branches.  The  stalks 
proceed  several  from  a  root ;   they   are    simple 


i 


CAROLINA  PINK  ROOT.  143 

four  sided  and  nearly  smooth.     Leaves  opposite, 
sessile,  ovate,  acuminate,  entire,  smooth,  with  the 
margins    and  veins  sometimes   puhescent.     Tlie 
stalk  commonly  terminates  in  a  simple   one-sided 
raceme  of  flowers,  although  I  have  seen  luxuriant 
specimens  with  two.     The  peduncles  are  extreme- 
ly short,  so  that  the  raceme  may  without  impro- 
priety be  denominated  a  spike.     Calyx  persistent, 
with  five  linear-subulate,   finely  serrulate  leaves, 
wliich  are  reflexed  in  the  ripe  fruit.     Corolla  five 
times   as  long  as  the   calyx,   scarlet  or  crimson 
without,  orange  coloured  within,  the  tube  inflated 
and  angular  at  top,  the  border  divided  into  five 
acute,  spreading  segments.     Stamens   very  short, 
inserted  into  the  mouth  of  the  corolla  between  the 
segments  ;  anthers   oblong-heart  shaped.     Germ 
small,  superior,  ovate.     Style  long*er  than  the  co- 
rolla, jointed  near  its  base  and  bearded  at  the  ex- 
tremity.    Capsule   double,  consisting  of  two,   co- 
hering, one  celled,  globular  portions,   seated  on  a 
common  receptacle. 

The  Spigelia  is  a  mucilaginous  plant,  w  ith  a 
mild  and  not  very  disagreeable  taste.  The  infu- 
sion and  decoction  of  the  root  and  leaves  afford 
a  flocculent  precipitate  witli  alcohol.  They  are 
discoloured  but  not  precipitated  by  silicated  pot- 
ash. They  have  little  sensibility  to  gelatin,  al- 
19 

3« 


144?  SPIGELIA  MARILANDICA. 

though  the  tincture  is  made  turbid  by  it.  After  the 
decoction  was  filtrated  from  the  mucus,  which  had 
been  coagulated  by  alcohol,  it  gave  a  precipitate 
with  nitrate  of  mercury,  but  none  with  muriate  of 
tin.  Sulphate  of  iron  caused  a  dark  green  precip- 
itate from  the  decoction,  and  but  little  change  in 
the  tincture.  No  distinct  evidence  of  resin  pre- 
sented itself.  A  substance  which  may  perhaps 
be  considered  a  variety  of  extractive  matter,  ap- 
pears to  exist  in  this  plant,  as  the  tincture  was 
affected  in  nearly  the  same  manner  by  the  salts 
of  tin  and  mercury  above  mentioned,  as  the  fil- 
trated decoction. 

Water  may  be  considered  an  adequate  solvent 
for  the  chief  proximate  principles  of  this  plant. 

The  medicinal  reputation  of  the  Spigelia  is 
founded  on  the  powers  which  it  is  supposed  to 
possess  as  a  vermifuge.  This  reputation  is  now 
so  generally  established,  that  the  plant  has  be- 
come a  considerable  article  of  commerce  to  vai'i- 
ous  parts  of  the  world,  from  our  southern  states, 
Tliis  is  a  sufficient  evidence,  that  the  medicine 
has,  to  a  certain  extent,  satisfied  public  expecta- 
tion, and  obtained  the  sanction  of  practitioners. 
But  beyond  this,  it  is  difficult  to  speak  confident- 
ly on  the  subject.  The  Spigelia  belongs  to  a 
class  of  medicines,  which  are  frequently  prescrib- 


CAROLINA  PINK  ROOT.  145 

ed,  without  positive  proof  of  the  existence  of  the 
cause  whicli  they  are  intended  to  remove  ;  wliich 
often  fail  altogether  in  the  liands  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful practitioners  ;  which  frequently  succeed 
merely  because  they  are  backed  with  medicines 
of  a  more  active  class  ;  and  whose  apparent  suc- 
cess is  sometimes  the  consequence  solely  of  a  dis- 
eased state  of  the  body.*  Our  plant  is  however 
entitled  to  trial,  especially  where  it  can  be  obtain- 
ed fresh,  and  in  full  strength.  A  physician  of  the 
southern  states,  for  whose  opinion  I  have  much 
respect.  Dr.  Norcom  of  Edenton,  N.  C.  inform- 
ed me  some  years  since,  that  the  Spigelia  was 

*  From  the  list  of  equivocal  anthelmintics,  I  would  except  those 
which  have  a  cathartic  operation,  also  a  number  of  mineral  origin. 
But  I  am  fully  persuaded,  that  many  reputed  vermifuges  have  en- 
joyed a  reputation  which  they  do  not  deserve.  The  Dolichos prur%eii& 
has  received  the  commendations  of  practitioners  and  medical  writers,, 
on  the  presumption  that  its  spiculse  exert  the  same  stimulant  effect  on 
the  bodies  of  worms  in  the  alimentary  canal,  that  they  do  on  the  nu- 
man  skin  externally.  I  was  long  ago  inclined  to  doubt  the  power 
of  these  spiculse  to  withstand  the  digestive  process  of  the  stomach. 
My  suspicions  were  confirmed  upon  finding  that  simple  macera-^ 
tion  in  warm  water  for  an  ^lour,  dissolves  their  virus,  and  renders 
them  incapable  of  producing  their  usual  stimulus  of  itching,  [when 
applied  to  the  skin.  Some  late  experiments  by  my  pupil,  Dr.  Chan- 
dler, have  shewn  that  the  gastric  juice  destroys  tbeir  activity  in  the 
same  manner. 

It  is  not  necessary  in  this  place  to  revert  to  the  Fern  root  of  Mad- 
ame Nouffer,  and  various  other  exploded  anthelmintics  of  its  kind. 


146  SPIGELIA  MARILANDICA. 

most  active  when  recently  dried,  and  that  its 
efficacy  was  always  impaired  hy  keeping  more 
than  six  months.  Dr.  Garden  had  previously 
made  observations  somewhat  similar.  If  this  be 
the  case,  we  may  account  for  its  failures  in  the 
hands  of  those  who  obtain  it  at  a  distance  when 
half  a  dozen  years  old. 

Drs.  Lining,  Gai^den,  and  Chalmers  of  Caroli- 
na, are  the  writers  who  first  introduced  the  Spi- 
gelia  to  notice,  and  who  have  spoken  most  une- 
quivocally in  its  praise.  Each  of  these  pliysi- 
cians  has  represented  it  as  an  anthelmintic  of 
superior  efficacy.  It  appears  that  under  certain 
circumstances,  it  is  capable  of  operating  as  a  ca- 
thartic, and  that  m  these  instances,  the  most  ad- 
vantage has  been  experienced  from  it.  Dr.  Gar- 
den says,  that  he  had  given  it  in  hundreds  of 
cases,  and  that  he  "  never  found  it  do  much  good 
except  when  it  proved  gently  purgative."  As  the 
action  of  the  Spigelia  upon  the  bowels  is  quite 
uncertain,  most  practitioners  either  unite,  or  fol- 
low it  with  calomel  or  some  purgative  medicine. 

We  are  told  that  tlie  pink  root,  when  in  its 
most  active  state,  if  given  in  large  quantities,  indu- 
ces narcotic  symptoms,  such  as  stupor,  headach, 
dilated  pupil,  ^c  Dr.  H.  Thompson,  who  took 
larffc  doses  of  the  root  to  try  its  effect  on  himself. 


CAROLINA  PINK  ROOT.  147 

found  that  it  produced  an  increased  quickness  of 
the  pulse,  drowsiness,  flushing  of  the  face  and 
stiffness  of  the  eyelids.  Dr.  Chahners  attributes 
to  its  too  free  use  the  cases  of  two  children,  who 
died  in  convulsions.  Dr.  Macbridc  informs  us 
that  its  narcotic  effects  ai^e  seldom  or  never  at- 
tended with  danger,  and  that  some  physicians 
consider  them  an  evidence  of  the  favorable  opera- 
tion of  the  medicine.  The  opinion  that  this  effect 
is  owing  to  the  root  of  some  deleterious  plant 
taken  up  with  the  Spigelia,  seems  to  be  void  of 
foundation. 

As  in  most  other  perennial  plants,  the  root  of 
the  Spigelia  jiossesses  a  greater  share  of  activity 
than  the  herb.  Of  tliis  root  ten  grains  may  be 
given  in  powder  to  a  cliild  four  years  old,  twenty 
to  one  which  is  seven,  and  a  drachm  to  an  adult. 
If  no  inconvenience  ensue,  it  may  be  repeated  two 
or  three  times  a  day.  If  the  infusion  is  prefer- 
red, an  ounce  of  the  root  may  be  infused  in  a  pint 
of  water,  and  half  the  quantity  taken  by  an  adult 
or  one  or  two  spoonfuls  by  a  child. 

BOTAMCAL  REFERENCES. 

Spigelia  MarilamUca,  Linn.  *S^.  pi. — Curtis,  Bot.  Mag.  t. 
80. — WooDviLLE,  ii.  t.  105. — Walter,  Flor,  Car.  92. — Mi- 
cHArx,  i.  147. — PuRSH,  i.  139. — Elliott,  i.  236.— Lonicera 


148  SPIGELIA  MARILANDICA. 

spicis  terminalibus,  &c.  Gronov.  Virg,  SO. — Periclymeni  Vir- 
giniani  flore  coccineo  planta  Marilandica^  &c.  Catesby,  ii.  U  78. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Chaxmers,  on  the  weather  and  diseases  of  Soiith  Carolina,  i. 
67. — Lining,  Essays,  phys.  and  lit,  i.  436.  Garden,  ditto,  iii. 
145. — ^HoME,  Clin,  exper,  420. — Murray,  ^pp.  Med.  i.  548— 
Macbride,  in  Elliott^s  Car.  237. — Thompson,  Inaug.  Diss. 


PLATE  XIV. 

Fig.  1.  Spigelia  Marilandica. 

Fig.  2.  The  capsule  with  the  reflected  calyx. 

Fig.  3.  Cm'olla  opened. 


/VJ/' 


i 


^///*v?///    '^Yf.//r/<//'/ 


ASARUM  CANADENSE. 


Canada  Snake  root.    Wild  ginger. 

PLATE  XV. 

The  properties  of  this  mild  aromatic  have 
been  so  far  misconceived,  probably  from  its  re- 
lation to  an  European  species,  that  it  would  be 
improper  in  a  work  of  this  kind,  to  pass  over  it 
without  notice  of  its  real  character.  It  affords  a 
striking  exception  to  the  rule,  that  botanical  affin- 
ities are  capable  of  mdicating  the  medicinal 
qualities  of  vegetables.  Tliis  plant  in  its  effect  on 
the  human  system,  is  widely  different  from  the 
European  asarabacca,  although  it  approaches  it  so 
nearly  in  its  form,  that  Michaux  st^  les  it  "  vLx  dis- 
tinctum  ab  Europseo." 

The  Asarum  Canadense  grows  in  old  woods 
and  mountainous  tracts  from  Canada  to  Cai^olina. 
It  is  one  of  the  humblest  plants,  presenting  only 
two  leaves  with  their  stalks,  which  appear  to  con- 
stitute the  whole  of  the  plant  above  the  ground. 


150  ASARUM   CANADENSE. 

On  plucking  the  plant,  the  two  leaves  are  found 
connected  below,  with  an  obscure  flower  in  their 
fork,  wliich  had  rested  on  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  or  been  buried  under  the  decayed  leaves 
and  soil.     Its  flowering  time  is  from  May  to  July. 

Tliis  plant,  from  the  number  of  its  stamens, 
is  placed  by  Linnaeus  and  Michaux  in  the  class 
Bodecandria.  Pursh,  who  has  omitted  this  class 
in  his  Flora,  has  transferred  the  Asarums  to  Gy- 
nandria,  from  the  circumstance  that  the  stamens 
are  inserted  on  the  germ.  Tliis  place  however  is 
not  better  suited  to  the  Asarum,  than  to  a  multi- 
tude of  other  plants  whose  germ  is  inferior. 

Linnseus'  natural  order  for  this  plant  is  Sar- 
mentacece  and  J iissieii' s  *,iristolochicv. 

Generic  character.  Calya^^  three  or  four  cleft, 
superior;  corolla  none;  anthers  growing  to  the 
middle  of  the  filaments.  Capsule  coriaceous, 
crowned. 

Specific  chai'acter.  Leaves  ttvo,  reniform ; 
calyx  tvoolly,  cleft  to  the  base;  its  segments 
spreading  at  top. 

The  root  of  the  Asarum  is  creeping,  fleshy, 
and  somewhat  jointed.  Leaves  kidney  shaped, 
pubescent  on  both  sides,  with  long,  round,  hairy 
petioles.  Flower  solitary,  growing  from  the  fork 
of  the  stem,  on  a  pendulous  hairy  peduncle.     Ca- 


WILD  GINGER.  151 

lyx  very  liairy  or  woolly,  consisting  of  three  broad, 
concave  leafets,  which  are  mostly  of  a  brownish 
or  dull  purple  on  the  inside  at  top  and  bottom, 
and  terminated  by  a  long,  spreading,  inflected 
point,  with  reflexed  sides.  The  colour  varies 
greatly  according  to  the  amount  of  light  which 
the  plant  enjoys,  being  sometimes  nearly  green. 
Stamens  twelve,  inserted  on  the  germ  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  calyx,  the  alternate  ones  longer. 
Anthers  growing  to  the  filaments  below  their  ex- 
tremity. Near  the  divisions  of  the  calyx  are 
three  short,  curved,  filamentary  substances,  which 
may  perhaps  be  called  nectaries.  Germ  inferior, 
somewhat  hexagonal,  marked  at  top  inside  with  a 
dark  red  line  ;  style  conical,  striate,  parted  at  top 
into  six  recurved,  radiating  stigmas. 

The  root  of  the  Asarum  has  an  agreeable  aro- 
matic taste,  which  is  intermediate  between  that  of 
ginger  and  the  aristolochia  serpentaria.  This 
quality  has  given  it  the  names  of  JVild  ginger  and 
Snake  root  in  different  sections  of  the  country. 
The  name  ColVsfoot  is  also  applied  to  it. 

The  chemical  trials,  to  which  I  have  subjected 
the  root,  bring  to  view  the  following  substances: — 
1.  A  light  coloured,  pungent,  volatile  oil,  possess- 
ing the  characteristic  taste  and  smell  of  the  plant 

in  a  high  degree.     2.  A  resin,  wliicli  is  of  a  red- 
20 


152  ASARUM  CANADENSE. 

dish  colour  and  very  bitter.     These  two  constitu- 
ents communicate  to  alcohol  the  active  properties 
of  the  plant.     3.  Fcecula.     4.  A  gummy  mucus. 
These  exist  in  such  quantities  as  to  impede  the 
filtration  of  the   decoction.     Astringency  hardly 
exists  in  this  root,  as  a  gelatinous  solution  gave  no 
evidence  of  tannin,  and  the  sulphate  of  iron  pro- 
duced a  green  colour  hardly  bordering  on  black. 
It  has  been  asserted,  and  the  statement  copied 
from  one  book  to  another,  that  the  Asarum  Cana- 
dense  is  a  powerful  emetic.     I  presume  that  sub- 
sequent  writers  have  taken   their  opinion  from 
Cornutus,  who,  in  his  plants  of  Canada,  informs 
us,  that  two  spoonfuls  of  the  juice  of  the  leaves  of 
the  Asarum,  (meaning  the  European  plant,  rather 
than   the  American,)   are  found  to  evacuate  the 
stomach  powerfully.     I  can  hardly  doubt,  that  if 
such  an  operation  has  really  been  produced  from 
the  Canadian  species,   it  must  have  taken  place 
in  irritable  stomachs,  to  whom  two  spoonfuls  of 
any  crude  vegetable   juice   would   have    proved 
emetic.     Having  seen  the  root  of  this  plant  used 
in   the    country   in  considerable    quantities  as  a 
sudorific,  I  was   long  since  induced  to  doubt  its 
emetic  power.     Subsequent  experience  has  satis- 
fied me  that  the  freshly  powdered  root,   given  to 
the  extent  of  half  a  drachm,  and  probably  in  still 


WILD  GINGER.  153 

larger   quantity,   excites   no  vomiting    nor    even 
nausea. 

Still  however  the  plant  deserves  not  to  he  dis- 
carded from  use.  The  aromatic  flavour  of  the 
root  is  more  agreeable  than  that  of  the  aristolochia 
serpentaria,  wliich  article  it  seems  to  resemhle 
in  its  medicinal  powers.  Several  country  prac- 
titioners, who  have  employed  it,  have  spoken  to 
me  favourably  of  its  effect,  as  a  warm  stimulant 
and  diaphoretic.  As  a  substitute  for  ginger,  in 
common  domestic  use,  I  know  of  no  indigenous 
article  which  promises  so  fairly  as  this. 

Alcohol  is  the  proper  solvent  for  the  active 
properties  of  this  plant.  The  tincture  has  a  dark 
red  colour,  and  a  highly  concentrated  taste  of  the 
root. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Asarum  Canadense,  Lm.  Sp. pl.—Micuxvx,  i.  279.— Pursh, 
ii.  596 — Asarum  foliisreniformibus,mucronatis,  binis,  Geono- 
vius,  72.— Asaron  Canadense,  Cornutus,  Canad.  24,  t.  25.__ 
Asaron  Americanum,  Parkinson^,  theatr.  266. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHOiPF,  72 — Bart.  coll.  26,  48— Coxe,  Disp.  368. 


154  ASAllUM  CANADENSE. 

PLATE  XV. 

Fig.  1.  Jlsarum  Canadense. 

Fig.  £.  The  germ  with  the  stamens  and  nedareoiisjilaments* 

Fig.  3.  J  petal. 

Fig.  4.  .4  stamen  a  little  magnified. 

Fig.  5.  Style  and  stigmas  magnified. 


i7,j'n. 


/  • 


IRIS  VERSICOLOR. 


Blue  Flag,  or  Flower  de  luce. 


PLATE  XVI. 

JLn  tlie  Hortus  Eltliamensis,  published  by 
John  J.  Dilleniiis  in  1732,  there  are  figures  of  two 
plants  under  the  name  of  "  Iris  Americana  versi- 
color," the  one  with  an  entire,  the  other  with  a 
crenate  style.  To  one  of  these,  the  plant  repre- 
sented in  our  plate  apparently  belongs.  This 
plant  however  is  so  subject  to  vfiriation  in  the 
colour  of  its  flowers,  the  crenatures  and  direction 
of  its  stigmas,  ^c.  tliat  it  has  received  from  differ- 
ent botanists  dissimilar  names.  The  Linnaean 
characters  of  Iris  versicolor  and  Virginica  are 
hai'dly  sufiicient  to  distinguish  them  from  each 
other.  Our  plant  is  the  Iris  versicolor  of  Muh- 
lenburgh's  catalogue,  by  his  own  declaration.  In 
the  character  of  its  stem  however,  it  agrees  equally 
well  with  Iris  virginica  of  Linn?eus  and  Michaux. 
It  may  be  doubted  whether  the  plant  figured  in 


i5G  IRIS  VERSICOLOR. 

tlie  Botanical  Magazine,  t.  70S,  is  more  than  a  va- 
riety of  this  species.  The  characters  taken  from 
the  comparative  length  of  the  stem  and  leaves, 
of  the  inner  petals  and  stigmas,  and  the  direction 
of  the  stem  and  of  the  stigmas  ;  are  all  subject  to 
variation.  Michaux,  Elliott  and  Pursh  make  the 
Virginica  synonymous  with  Iris  hexagona  of  Wal- 
ter, which  seems  permanently  distinguished  by 
the  deep  furrows  in  the  angles  of  its  capsule. 

The  Iris  versicolor  is  found  throughout  the 
United  States  in  the  borders  of  swamps  and  in 
wet  meadows,  of  which  it  forms  a  principal  orna- 
ment in  the  month  of  June.  No  race  of  vegeta- 
bles can  be  better  marked  than  tlie  elegant  genus 
to  which  this  plant  belongs.  They  are  essential- 
ly distinguishetl  by  a  corolla,  parted  into  siijc  seg- 
ments or  petals,  of  which  three  are  rejlecceil  and 
three  are  erect.  The  stigmas  resembling  petals. 
The  species  in  our  plate  has  ensiform  leaves,  its 
stem  acute  on  one  side,  its  capsules  ohlong,  three 
sided,  with  obtuse  angles. 

Class  Triandria, — Order  Monogynia.—Natnr- 
al  orders,  Ensatw,  Lin.  Irides,  Juss. 

The  root  is  fleshy,  horizontal,  sending  down  a 
multitude  of  fibres.  Stem  two  or  three  feet  highj 
round  on  one  side,  acute  on  the  other,  frequently 
branched,  and  bearing  from  two  to  six  flowers » 


BLUE   FLAG.  157 

Leaves  sword  shaped,  striated,  sheathing  at  base. 
Bractes  heeoming  scarious.  Peduncles  of  various 
length,  flattened  on  the  inside.  Germ  three  cor- 
nered, with  flat  sides  and  obtuse  angles.  Outer 
petals  of  the  flower  spatulate,  beardless,  the  bor- 
der purple,  the  claw  variegated  with  green,  yel- 
low and  white,  and  veined  with  purple.  Inner 
petals  erect,  varying  in  shape  from  spatulate  to 
lanceolate,  usually  paler  than  the  outer,  entire  or 
emarginate.  Style  short,  concealed;  stigmas  three, 
petal-form,  purple  or  violet,  resting  on  the  outer 
petals,  then-  extremeties  bifid,  ci-enate,  and  more 
or  less  reflexed  ;  their  lower  lip  short.  Stamens 
concealed  under  the  stigmas,  with  oblong-linear 
anthers.  Capsule  three  celled,  three  valved ; 
when  ripe,  oblong,  turgid,  three  sided,  with  round- 
ish angles.     Seeds  numerous,  flat. 

The  young  leaves  of  this  and  some  other  spe- 
cies of  Iris,  aftbrd  an  excellent  view  of  the  spiral 
filament,  which  lines  the  sap  vessels  of  the  leaf. 
If  a  leaf,  which  has  just  emerged  from  the  ground, 
be  carefully  broken  across,  and  the  segments 
gradually  di-awn  asunder,  these  fine  filaments  will 
unroll  themselves,  and  their  spiral  structure  be- 
come'very  obvious  to  the  microscope. 

The  root  of  the  Iris  versicolor  has  a  nauseous 
taste,  and  when  swallowed  or  held  in  the  moutb. 


158  IRIS  VERSICOLOR. 

even  in  small  quantities,  it  leaves  behind  a  pow- 
erful sense  of  heat  and  acrimony  in  the  fauces. 
Its  most  active  chemical  constituent  appears  to  be 
a  resin,  which  separates  in  the  form  of  a  white 
precipitate,  when  water  is  added  to  the  alcoholic 
solution.  The  decoction  suffers  little  or  no 
change  with  alcohol,  gelatin  or  salts  of  iron.  Mu- 
riate of  tin  affects  it  slightly,  the  nitrate  of  mer- 
cury more  abundantly.  Its  taste  is  much  weaker 
than  that  of  the  tincture.  Water  distilled  from 
tlie  root  has  a  highly  nauseous  taste  and  odour. 

The  root  of  the  Iris  versicolor  given  medicin- 
ally is  an  active  cathartic.  Mr.  William  Bartram, 
in  his  travels  in  Georgia  and  Florida,  informs  us, 
that  on  his  arrival  at  Ottasse,  an  Indian  town  on 
the  Tallapoose,  he  found  the  natives  "  fasting,  tak- 
ing medicine,  and  praying,  to  avert  a  grevious  ca- 
lamity of  sickness  which  had  lately  afflicted  them, 
and  laid  in  the  grave  abundance  of  theii*  citizens. 
The  first  seven  or  eight  days,  dming  which  time 
they  eat  or  drink  nothing,  but  a  meagre  gruel 
made  of  a  little  corn-flour  and  water ;  taking  at 
the  same  time,  by  way  of  medicine  or  physic,  a 
strong  decoction  of  the  roots  of  the  Iris  versicolor, 
which  is  a  powerful  cathartic.  They  hold  this 
root  in  high  estimation,  and  every  town  cultivates 
a  little  plantation  of  it,  having  a  large  artificial 


BLUE  FLAG.  159 

pond  just  without  the  town,  planted  and  almost 
overgrown  with  it." 

Having  myself  formerly  made  use  of  this  root 
in  dispensary  practice,  I  can  hear  testimony  to 
its  efficacy  as  a  medicine,  though  not  altogether 
to  its  convenience.  A  small  quantity  of  the  re- 
cent root,  or  a  few  grains  of  the  root  newly  dried, 
are  generally  certain  and  active  in  their  operation 
on  the  bowels.  They  ai'e  however  apt  to  occasion 
a  distressing  nausea  like  sea  sickness,  with  a  pros- 
tration of  strength  of  some  hours'  continuance ; 
so  that  I  think  the  plant  will  not  be  like  to  come 
into  favor  as  a  cathartic,  at  least  when  better  ones 
are  at  hand.  The  activity  of  tliis  article  is  dimin- 
ished by  age. 

The  stimulating  properties  of  the  Iris  render 
it  capable  of  exciting  many  of  the  secretions,  as 
well  as  excretions.  But  I  know  of  no  purpose 
for  which  it  seems  better  calculated,  than  that  of 
a  diuretic.  The  late  Dr.  Macbride  of  Cai'olina  as- 
sured me,  that  he  had  found  great  benefit  in  drop- 
sical affections  from  a  decoction  of  the  roots  of  this 
plant  in  combination  with  those  of  Er}  ngium  yuc- 
cifolium.  In  consequence  of  his  recommenda- 
tion, I  administered  the  tincture  of  the  Iris  in 
small  doses  to  several  persons  affected  with  ana- 
sarca and  with  hydi'othorax.  It  was  evidently  of 
21 


160  IRIS  VERSICOLOR. 

service  to  a  majority  of  those  who  took  it,  for  a  cer- 
tain time.  That  it  did  not  always  cure  the  dis- 
ease, is  a  reproach  which  it  must  divide  with  diuret- 
ic remedies  of  much  older  celebrity. 

The  Iris  gracilis,  a  species  described  in  the 
Florula  Bostoniensis,  the  Iris  pseudacorus  of  Eu- 
rope, and  several  others  of  the  genus,  appear  to 
possess  properties  very  similar  to  those  of  the 
plant  described. 


BOTAISICAL  REFERENCES. 

Iris  versicolor,  Lin".  Sjj.  pi. — Dilxenius,  Elth.  t.  155.— 
Curtis,  Bot.  Mag.  t.  21,  a  variety. — Pursh,  i.  29.— Exliott, 
Car.  i.  45.    Waiter,  Car.  67. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Bartram,  travels,  454,  Lond.  edit. — Cutler,  Mem.  Jimer. 
Jicad.  405 — 6. — Macbride,  171  £Wio/f's  Car,  i.  45. 


PLATE  XVI. 


Fig.  1.  Iris  versicolor. 


Fig.  2.  Style  and  stigmas  with  a  stamen. 


I'l.ATrn 


yr  yt'.jf-yff  /////./       ///^< 


HYOSCYAMUS  NIGER 


Heiihane. 


FLATE  XTT/.* 

1  HERE  is  little  doubt  that  the  Hyoscyamiis  of 
this  country  is  an  imported  plant.  It  is  yet  rare 
in  most  parts  of  the  country,  and  appears  to  be 
strictly  limited  to  the  bounds  of  cultivation.  Its 
seeds  are  very  tenacious  of  life,  and  will  spring  up 
under  favourable  circumstances,  after  having  been 
dormant  for  a  long  time.  Hence  the  plant  occa- 
sionally appears  in  old  grounds  which  have  been 
newly  disturbed,  as  in  grave  yards,  old  gardens 
and  cellars.  About  ten  years  since,  a  drain,  which 
intersects  the  common  in  Boston,  was  opened  for 
the  purpose  of  repairs.  In  the  following  season 
a  distinct  row  of  very  luxuriant  plants  of  Henbane 
covered  the  whole  of  this  di*ain,  although  none  of 
them  had  been  observed  to  grow  in  the  vicinity 

*  For  the  drawing  which  accompanies  this  article,  I  am  indebted 
to  Dr.  S.  Bass  of  Salem. 


163  HYOSCYAMUS  NIGER. 

the  preceding  year.  The  seeds,  which  produced 
these  plants,  had  probably  been  bui*ied  for  more 
than  fifteen  years. 

This  species,  together  with  others  of  its  genus, 
was  well  known  to  the  ancients  under  the  same 
name  which  it  now  bears.  Its  medicinal  and 
deleterious  properties  were  also  understood  by 
them. 

In  modern  arrangements  the  Hyoscyamus  in 
common  with  Datura,  Atropa  and  Other  injurious 
vegetables  of  its  kindred,  is  found  in  the  class  and 
order  Pentandria  Monogynia,  and  the  natural  or- 
der Luridce.     Its  Jussieuean  order  is  Solanew. 

In  this  genus  the  corolla  is  funnel  shaped 
and  obtuse^  the  stamens  inclined,  the  capsule  two 
celled  and  covered  with  a  lid. 

The  present  species  has  the  lower  leaves  sinu- 
ated  and  clasping,  and  thejiowers  sessile.  It  is 
biennial  and  flowers  in  June  and  July. 

The  whole  herb  has  a  glaucous  or  sea  green 
colour,  is  hauy  and  viscid,  and  emits  a  rank,  offen- 
sive smell.  The  stalk  is  one  or  two  feet  liigh, 
round,  branching  and  rigid.  The  first  leaves 
spread  upon  the  ground,  and  have  some  re- 
semblance to  a  young  thistle.  They  are  large, 
oblong,  frequently  contorted,  clasping,   cut  into 


HENBANE.  163 

acute  lobes,  and  pointed  ;  the  upper  ones  general- 
ly entire. 

The  flowers  form  a  revolute,  one  sided  spike 
at  the  end  of  the  stem  or  branch,  leaving,  as  they 
fall  off,  a  straight  row  of  capsules.  The  calyx  has 
five  short  acute  segments.  The  corolla  is  funnel 
shaped,  irregular,  with  five  spreading,  obtuse  seg- 
ments, of  a  pale  yellow  or  straw  colour,  with  a 
beautiful  net  work  of  pm'ple  veins.  Stamens  in- 
serted in  the  tube  of  the  corolla,  with  large  oblong 
anthers.  Style  slender,  longer  than  the  stamens, 
declined,  with  an  obtuse  stigma.  Capsule  two 
celled,  roundish,  covered  with  a  lid,  and  invested 
with  the  persistent  calyx,  the  segments  of  which 
extend  beyond  the  calyx,  and  become  rigid  and 
prickly.  The  seeds  ai*e  numerous,  small,  unequal, 
brownish,  and  are  discharged  by  the  horizontal 
separation  of  the  lid. 

From  such  chemical  experiments  as  I  have 
made  with  the  dried  leaves  of  the  Hyoscyamus, 
I  am  inclined  to  believe,  that  then*  chief  soluble 
portion  is  a  variety  of  extractive  matter.  The 
watery  and  alcoliolic  solutions  do  not  disturb  each 
other,  and  the  usual  tests  of  tannin  produce  in- 
considerable, or  no  alteration  in  either.  Of  vari- 
ous metallic  salts  which  affected  the  solutions,  the 


164  HVOSCYAMUS  NIGER. 

nitrate  of  mercury  gave  the  largest  precipitate  in 
my  experiments. 

The  Hyoscyamus  has  long  heen  known  as  a 
narcotic  poison.  This  character  it  uniformly  ex- 
erts ill  regard  to  mankind,  altliough  many  brute 
animals  are  exempt  from  its  influence.*  Diosco- 
rides  speaks  of  it  as  producing  drowsiness  and  de- 
lu^um. 

*  Horses,  goats,  sheep  and  swine  are  said  to  eat  it  without  inju- 
ry. Brute  animals  arc  frequently  less  susceptible  of  the  influence  of 
poisons  than  mankind.  In  the  experiments  which  have  been  made  on 
them  to  test  the  effect  of  doubtful  medicines,  the  positive  evidences 
of  activity  which  they  furnish,  are  in  general  more  to  be  depended 
on,  than  the  negative  That  is,  if  an  animal  suffers  from  the  action 
of  any  substance,  a  man  would  be  like  to  suffer  somewhat  in  the 
same  way.  Yet  if  the  animal  escapes  with  impunity,  it  does  not  fol- 
low that  the  man  would  be  equally  fortunate.  There  is  scarcely  any 
narcotic  plant  which  is  not  devoured  by  some  species  of  quadruped. 
Professor  Pallas  has  stated,  that  the  hedgehog  can  devour  Cantharides 
by  hundreds  without  inconvenience,  whereas  one  of  these  insects  may 
occasion  serious  trouble  to  a  man.  The  following  case  happened  un- 
der my  own  observation.  A  large  eagle,  (Falco  ossifragus,J  intend- 
ed for  a  cabinet  of  natural  history,  was  subjected  to  a  variety  of  ex- 
periments, with  a  view  to  destroy  him  without  injuring  his  plumage. 
A  number  of  mineral  poisons  were  successively  given  him  without 
effect,  even  in  large  doses.  At  length  a  drachm  of  corrosive  subli- 
mate of  mercury  was  inclosed  in  a  small  fish  and  given  him  to  eat. 
After  swallowing  the  whole  of  this,  he  continued,  to  appearance,  per- 
Icctly  well  and  free  from  inconvenience.  The  next  day  an  equal 
quantity  of  arsenic  was  given  him  without  any  better  success.  So 
that  in  the  end,  the  refractoiy  bird  was  obliged  to  be  put  to  death  by 
mechanical  means. 


HENBANE.  165 

The  instances  recorded  of  deleterious  conse- 
quences, ensuing  from  tlie  Hyoscyamus  incau- 
tiously taken,  are  exceedingly  numerous.  In  a 
number  of  cases  the  roots  have  been  introduced 
by  mistake  among  culinary  vegetables,  and  have 
occasioned  alarming  symptoms  in  whole  families 
at  once.  In  a  case  cited  by  Wepfer,  the  monks 
of  a  whole  monastery,  in  consequence  of  some 
roots  being  boiled  among  those  of  chicory  with 
their  food,  were  seized  with  raving  deHrium,  ac- 
companied by  intense  thirst,  impaired  vision  and 
other  violent  affections.  Dr.  Patouillat  has  re- 
corded in  the  Philosophical  Transactions,  vol.  40, 
the  case  of  nine  persons,  who  were  affected  with 
loss  of  speech,  convulsions,  and  at  length  with  vi- 
olent delirium.  These  symptoms  subsided  on 
the  subsequent  day,  when  it  was  found  that  some 
roots  of  Henbane  had  been  dug  up  in  the  garden 
the  preceding  day  by  mistake  for  parsnips,  and 
boiled  in  the  soup  on  which  the  family  had  dined. 
Sir  Hans  Sloanc,  in  the  same  Transactions  for 
1733,  has  given  an  instance  of  effects  equally  dan- 
gerous, occurring  in  some  children  who  ate  the 
capsules  of  this  plant,  supposing  them  to  be  fil- 
berds.  Even  the  odour  of  this  noxious  vegetable 
seems  capable  of  exciting  its  characteristic  ef- 
fects.     In    a    case    cited  by  Murray    from    the 


166  HYOSCYAMUS  NIGER. 

Gazette  de  Smite  of  1773 — 4,  some  servants  who 
slept  in  a  barn,  where  the  Henbane  had  been 
scattered  for  a  defense  against  rats,  awoke  with 
head-ach,  dizziness  and  vomiting. 

In  instances  where  death  has  ensued  from 
swallowing  this  plant,  the  stomach  has  been 
found  to  exhibit  marks  of  inflammation,  and  dark 
or  gangrenous  spots. 

The  principal  use  which  is  made  of  Hyoscya- 
Tnus  in  medicine,  is  as  a  substitute  for  opium,  in 
cases  where  that  article  disagrees  with  the  pa- 
tient, or  is  contraindicated  by  particular  symp- 
toms. It  appears  to  be  free  from  the  constipat- 
ing qualities  of  opium,  and  in  some  instances  it  is 
found  to  fulfil  the  indications  which  call  for  an 
anodyne  and  soporific  remarkably  well.  Among 
medical  writers  who  have  spoken  favourably  of  its 
operation  are  Dr.  Whytt,  who  employed  it  in  va- 
rious nervous  diseases,  and  Mr.  Burns,  author  of 
different  obstetric  works,  by  whom  it  is  recom- 
mended as  preferable  to  opium  in  certain  puer- 
peral complaints.  Mr.  Benjamin  Bell  states,  that 
he  found  great  advantage  from  its  use  in  trouble- 
some cases  of  chordee,  after  opium  had  failed  to 
give  relief. 

It  must  be  acknowledged  however,  that  Hyos- 
cyamus  is  far  less  uniform  and  equal  in  its  opera- 


HENBANE.  167 

tion  than  opium,  and  that  although  in  some  con- 
stitutions it  mitigates  pain,  quiets  irritation,  and 
procures  sleep ;  yet  in  others  it  produces  un- 
pleasant nausea,  confusion  of  ideas,  head-ach,  and 
sleep  which  is  laborious  and  un refreshing.  It  is 
rather  a  secondary  medicine,  to  he  resorted  to  af- 
ter the  failure  of  opium,  than  one  which  we  may 
confidently  apply  to  at  first,  with  reliance  on  its 
anodyne  eifects. 

The  Henhane  was  found  efficacious  in  the  dis- 
ease of  colica  pictorum  by  StoU  and  several  others. 
Its  external  application  in  the  form  of  a  cata- 
plasm of  the  bruised  leaves  has  given  relief  in  va- 
rious tumors  and  painful  affections. 

For  internal  use  the  extract  should  be  prepar- 
ed in  the  same  way  as  that  of  stramonium.  From 
one  to  three  grains  of  this  extract  is  a  suitable 
commencing  dose,  which  may  be  gradually  in- 
creased until  its  effects  are  perceived. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Hyoscyamus  niger,  Lixjf.  Sp.  pi. — Woodville,  i.  t.  52. — 
Smith,  Engl.  BoU  t.  591.— -Pursh,  i.  141.-— Hyoscyamus  flavus, 
FucHsius,  Hist.  791. — Hyoscyamus  vulgaris,  Bauhin,  J.  iii.  627. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Stoll,  ratio  med.  iii.  13,  423. — Cullen,  Mat.  Med,  ii.  271. 
FoTHEKGiLi,  Med.   Soc.  Loud.  i.  310.— Home,  clinical  exfts^ 

9«). 


168  HYOSCYAMUS  NIGER. 

197. — Withering,  Med.  Comment.  Dec.  II,  vi.  367. — King- 
XAKE,  Lond.  Med.  and  Fhys.  Journal,  v.  438. — Bkown,  dittOf  iii. 
406. — Murray,  .ipp,  Med.  i.  655,  &c.  &c. 


PLATE  XVII. 

Fig.  1.  Hyoscyamus  niger. 

Fig.  £.  Corolla  laid  open. 

Fig.  3.  Calyx. 

Fig.  4.  Calyx  of  the  fruit  laid  open  to  shew  the  capsule  within  if. 


V.  JTl  in. 


/f>f</  /f/f  ///>  r///ffYf  ////■/  /V, 


S0LANU3I  DULCAMARA. 


Bitter  sweet, 

PLATE  xnii. 

fV  HETHER  the  plant  represented  in  our  plate 
is  originally  of  American  growth,  or  has  been  in- 
troduced since  the  discovery  of  this  continent,  it 
is  now  difficult  to  say.  It  is  certainly  a  hardy 
vegetable,  and  although  its  natural  soil  is  at  the 
water  side,  yet  it  easily  becomes  habituated  to 
shady,  fertile  ground  of  almost  any  elevation. 
The  most  luxuriant  specimens  are  found  about 
brooks  and  ditches  and  in  sheltered  situations, 
where  the  roots  have  free  access  to  water.  In  these 
places  the  stalks  frequently  extend  some  way  on 
the  surface,  sending  down  a  multitude  of  radicles 
into  the  mud  below.  When  the  plant  grows  in 
higher  ground  and  more  exposed  to  the  light,  its 
growth  is  restricted,  and  the  flowers  are  less  bril- 
liant in  colour. 


170  SOLANUM  DULCAMARA. 

The  names  of  Bitter  sweet  and  Woody  nights 
shade  are  the  most  frequent  English  appellations 
of  this  vegetable.  The  former  of  these  is  also  ap- 
plied to  the  Celastrus  scandens,  a  very  different 
plant.  The  frequent  changes  which  always  take 
place  in  the  application  of  vulgar  names,  renders 
a  reliance  on  them  unsafe,  and  indeed  makes  it 
useless  to  collect  or  preserve  more  than  a  few  of 
the  principal  ones. 

The  genus  Solanum  is  remarkable  for  the 
great  variety  and  almost  opposite  character  which 
takes  place  among  its  species.  The  common  Po- 
tatoe,  the  Egg  plant,  the  Tomato,  the  Jerusalem 
cherry,  and  the  Black  nightshade,  are  all  species 
of  this  multiform  genus.  The  common  character 
wliich  binds  them  together,  consists  in  a  rotate 
corolla  ;  the  anthers  cohering,  with  a  douhle  open- 
ing at  top ;  the  berry  two  celled.  The  species 
Dulcamara  is  distinguished  from  others  by  its 
stem,  which  is  shrubby  ;  unarmed  and  jiexuous  ; 
its  leaves  auriculated  ;  and  its  panicles  resembling 
cymes. 

Class  Pentandria, — Order  Monogynia, — Natu- 
ral orders  Luridce,  Linn.     Solanece,  Juss. 

The  Bitter  sweet  is  entitled  to  the  character 
of  a  vine  rather  than  shrub.  The  stem  is  woody, 
slender,  climbing  in  large  plants  to  the  height  of 


BITTER  SWEET.  171 

five  or  six  feet.     Leaves  petioled,  ovate,  acute,  en- 
tire, furnished  at  the  base  with  two   appendages, 
which  give  them  somewhat  of  a  hastate  form.     The 
lower  and  upper   leaves   are    frequently  without 
these  appendages.     The  flowers  form  a  loose,  nod- 
ding cluster  or  panicle,  shaped  like  a  cyme,  and 
taking  its  origin  opposite  to  a  leaf.     Calyx  of  five 
short,  purplish,  persistent  segments.     Corolla  ro- 
tate, becoming  reflexed  as  it  grows  old,  divided  in- 
to five  acute    segments,   which   are   purple,    and 
mai-ked  with  two  whitish  dots  at  the  base  of  each. 
The  filaments  are  much  shorter  than  the  anthers, 
and  inserted  in  the  short  tube  of  the  corolla.     An- 
thers yellow,  erect,  cohering,  so  as  to  form  a  con- 
ical tube   ai'ound  the  style.     Germ   oval ;    style 
longer  than  the  stamens  ;    stigma  simple.     The 
berries   are  oval,  of  a  bright  scarlet  colour,  and 
continue  to  hang  in  bunches  after  the  leaves  have 
fallen. 

The  taste  and  smell  of  the  Dulcamara  are  less 
nauseous  than  those  of  many  other  species  of  So- 
lanum.  Water  seems  a  perfect  solvent  for  its 
most  sensible  constituents.  The  chief  soluble 
portion  seems  to  be  a  kind  of  mucous  extractive, 
which  is  taken  up  by  both  water  and  alcoliol, 
though  most  by  the  former.  The  nitrate  of  mer- 
cury  and  muriate  of  tin,  gave  precipitates  from 


17S  SOLANUM  DULCAMARA. 

both,  though  most  from  the  water.     The  chemic- 
al evidences  of  astringency  were  very  slight. 

From  the  experiments  of  Hartmann  and  Kuhn, 
cited  by  Murray,  we  may  infer  that  water  is  a 
better  solvent  for  this  plant  than  alcohol.  An 
ounce  of  the  twigs  or  stalks  treated  with  alcohol 
afforded  two  drachms  and  two  scruples  of  extract. 
The  same  quantity  treated  with  water  gave  tliree 
drachms  and  thirty  five  grains. 

The  Solanum  dulcamarf^  has  formerly  receiv- 
ed the  commendations  of  many  authors,  some  of 
whose  names  ai*e  of  high  authority  in  medicine. 
The  diseases  in  which  it  has  acquu^ed  confidence, 
are  chronic  rheumatism,  gout,  secondary  syphilis, 
incipient  phtliisis,  asthma,  jaundice.  But  what- 
ever may  be  its  efficacy  in  these  complaints,  it  has 
in  modern  practice  given  place  to  more  active 
medicines.  Its  most  permanent  and  merited  rep- 
utation at  the  present  day,  is  derived  from  its  ap- 
plication to  external  complaints,  and  particularly 
to  cutaneous  diseases.  In  dissertations  upon  the 
properties  of  this  plant  by  Linnaeus  and  by  Car- 
rere,  its  use  is  highly  commended  in  herpes,  in 
scabies,  and  in  some  of  the  secondary  forms  of 
syphilis.  Professor  Murray  has  added  his  own 
testimony  to  that  of  these  writers,  and  speaks  de- 


BITTER  SWEET.  473 

cisively  of  his  success  with  it  in  cutaneous  diseas- 
es of  an  inveterate  chai'acter. 

In  the  more  recent  and  splendid  works  of 
Willan  and  Bateman  on  Diseases  of  tlie  Skin, 
we  find  some  important  testimony  of  the  efiicacy 
of  the  Dulcamara  in  cutaneous  affections.  The 
former  of  these  authors  has  inserted  in  his  work 
a  letter  of  Dr.  Crichton,  physician  to  the  West- 
minster hospital,  who  had  employed  the  article 
for  a  considerable  number  of  years.  This  gen- 
tleman states,  that  out  of  twenty  three  cases  of 
Lepra  Grsecorum,  in  wliich  he  had  used  it,  two 
only  had  resisted  its  action.  He  does  not  assert 
that  it  is  equally  efiicacious  in  other  cutaneous 
diseases,  although  it  had  appeared  to  him  to  do 
good  in  psoriasis  and  pityriasis.  His  mode  of 
employing  it  was  as  follows  : 

Take  of  stalks  of  Dulcamara,  one  ounce  ;  wa- 
ter, a  pound  and  a  half;  boil  to  a  pound,  and 
strain  when  cold. 

Of  tliis  decoction  the  patient  took  two  ounces 
at  first,  morning,  noon  and  night,  but  the  quan- 
tity was  afterwai'ds  increased,  until  it  amounted  to 
a  pint  per  day.  At  the  same  time  the  skin  was 
ordered  to  be  washed  with  a  stronger  decoction, 
which  proved  an  auxiliary  to  the  cure.  Dr. 
Crichton  found  that  in  delicate  people  and  hyster- 


174  SOLANUM  DULCAMARA. 

ical  women,  it  often  produced  syncope  and  slight 
palpitation  of  the  heart,  now  and  then  nausea  and 
giddiness.  But  if  the  dose  was  diminished,  or 
any  aromatic  tincture  added,  it  ceased  to  produce 
uneasy  symptoms.  The  good  effects  of  the  rem- 
edy were  seldom  perceived  until  after  the  first 
eight  days. 

Dr.  Bateman  considers,  that  "  one  of  the  most 
effectual  remedies  for  lepra  under  all  its  vai4eties 
is  the  decoction  of  the  leaves  and  twigs  of  the  So- 
lanum  dulcamara."  He  administers  it  in  the 
same  way  with  that  just  described.  "When," 
says  he,  "  there  is  a  degree  of  torpor  in  the  super- 
ficial vessels,  the  same  decoction  made  with  a 
lai'ger  proportion  of  the  shi'ub,  is  advantageously 
employed  as  a  lotion  ;  but  if  there  is  any  inflam- 
matory disposition,  this  and  every  other  external 
stimulus  must  be  prohibited." 

I  have  employed  the  Bitter  sweet,  both  in  sub- 
stance and  in  decoction  in  a  number  of  cutaneous 
affections.  It  appears  to  be  a  valuable  auxiliary 
to  mercury  in  the  treatment  of  syphilitic  erup- 
tions. I  have  also  known  herpetic  eruptions  to 
yield  to  its  internal  and  external  use.  The  Amer- 
ican plant  however,  when  gathered  in  full  vigour, 
does  not  set  easily  on  the  stomach  in  large  doses. 
I  have  known  vomiting  produced  by  a  few  grains 


BITTER  SWEET.  175 

of  the  powdered  leaves,  and  by  a  small  cup  of  the 
decoction.  Tlie  strength  of  the  plant  seems  to 
vaiy  in  some  degree  with  the  time  of  gather- 
ing, and  mode  of  preserving.  Dr.  CuUen  found 
different  parcels  of  the  article  to  exhibit  very  dif- 
ferent degrees  of  strength.  Writers  are  not 
agreed  as  to  its  immediate  effects  on  the  head  and 
stomach,  probably  from  the  different  age  and  con- 
dition of  the  medicine  employed  by  them.  From 
my  own  observation  I  am  induced  to  consider  the 
appearance  of  slight  narcotic  symptoms,  as  an  ev- 
idence of  the  goodness  of  the  medicine,  and  as  a 
criterion  for  regulating  the  dose.  The  formula  of 
Dr.  Crichton  for  the  decoction  appears  to  be  a 
good  one,  but  in  the  case  of  delicate  constitutions, 
the  commencing  dose  should  not  exceed  an  ounce, 
which  may  be  afterwards  increased  according  to 
cuTumstances.  The  addition  of  a  little  cinna- 
mon renders  the  decoction  less  apt  to  offend  the 
stomach. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Solaniim  dulcamara,  Linnjeus,  Sp.pl. — Woodviile,  t.  33. — 
Smith,  Engl.  Bot.  t.  565. — Pursh,  i.  156. — Solanum  scandens, 
sen    dulcamara. — TorRNEroRT,  PanSf  43. — Glycypicros  sive 
amaradulcis,  J.  Bavhin,  ii.  109. 
2B 


176  SOLANUOI  DULCAMARA. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 


BooERHAAVE,  Hist.  hovt.  L.  B.  506. — LiNN^us,  Mmn.  Acad, 
iv.  39,  and  viii.  62. — Murray,  Jlpp.  med.  603. — Carrere,  sur 
la  Douce-amere,  1780,  and  in  Med.  and  Phys.  Journal,  i.  307. — 
CvjJjEn,  Mat.  Med.  ii.  554 — Willan,  on  Cutaneous  diseases ,  145. 
— Bateman,  on  ditto,  35. — Orflla,  des poisons,  192. 


PLATE  XVIII. 

Fig.  1.  Solanum  dulcamara. 

Fig.  2.  Corolla, 

Fig.  3.  Tiihe  of  anthers  laid  open. 

Fig.  4.  Stamen, 

Fig.  5.  Calyx  and  pistil. 


^■^^^ 


f/'r-///f      /  /t//a/a 


ria  m. 


LOBELIA  INFLATA. 


Indian  tobacco. 


PLATE  XIX, 

An  the  United  States  there  are  many  species 
of  Lohelia,  which  are  interesting  for  their  beauty, 
singularity  or  use.  We  have  few  plants  more 
elegant  than  the  cardinal  flower,  and  few  more 
curious  in  structure  than  the  Lobelia  Dortmanna. 
In  medicinal  powers,  the  subject  of  this  article  is 
entitled  to  take  precedence  of  the  rest.  It  is  an 
annual  plant,  found  in  fields  and  road  sides,  from 
Canada  to  the  southern  states.  It  flowers  from 
midsummer  until  the  arrival  of  frosts. 

The  genus  Lobelia  has  a  jive  cleft  calyx ;  a 
monopetaloiis,  irregular  corolla,  with  a  cleft  tube ; 
the  anthers  cohering;  the  capsule  two  or  three 
celled. 

The  species  injiata  is  branching  and  hairy, 
with  ovate,  serrate  leaves,  and  turgid  capsules. 


178  LOBELIA  INPLATA. 

The  connexion  of  the  anthers  into  a  tuhe  has 
caused  some  ambiguity  and  difference  of  opinion, 
as  to  the  place  which  this  genus  should  occupy, 
in  the  Limifean  system.  Linnseus  placed  it  in  his 
order  Monogamia  of  the  class  Syngenesia.  Most 
of  our  late  botanists  have  very  properly  remov- 
ed the  plants  of  tliis  order  from  the  compound 
flowers,  with  which  they  have  no  natural  affinity, 
to  Pentandria,  which  place  their  number  of  sta- 
mens authorizes  them  to  occupy.  Pursh  has  pla- 
ced the  Lobelias  under  Monadelphia.  The  Nat- 
ural order  which  contains  them  is  the  Cam- 
panaceas  of  Linnseus  and  Jussieu. 

The  Lobelia  inflata  varies  in  height  from  six 
inches  to  two  or  three  feet.     The  small  plants  are 
nearly  simple,  the  large    ones    much  branched. 
Boot  fibrous.     Stem  erect,  in  the  full  sized  plant 
much   branched,    angular,   very    hau'y.      Leaves 
scattered,  sessile,   oval,  serrate,   veiny  and  hairy. 
Flowers  in  spikes  or  racemes,  pedunculated,  each 
one  in  the  axil  of  a  small  leaf.     Segments  of  the 
calyx  linear,  acute,  standing  on  the  germ,  which  is 
oval   and   striated.       Corolla   bluish   purple,   the 
tube   prismatic    and   cleft    above,   the    segments 
spreading,   acute,  the  two  upper  ones   lanceolate, 
the  three  lower  ones  oval.     Anthers  collected  in- 
to  an   oblong,   curved   body,   purple  ;    filaments 


INDIAN  TOBACCO.  179 

white.  Style  filiform  ;  stigma  curved  and  inclos- 
ed by  the  anthers.  Capsules  two  celled,  turgid, 
oval,  compressed,  ten  angled,  covered  with  the  ca- 
lyx.    Seeds  numerous,  small,  oblong,  brown. 

The  Lobelia  inflata  when  broken,  emits  a  milky 
juice.  When  chewed,  it  communicates  to  the 
mouth  a  burning,  acrimonious  sensation,  not  un- 
like the  taste  of  green  tobacco.  It  exhibits  the 
following  noticeable  ingredients  upon  chemical 
examination.  1.  An  acrid  principle.  This  is  ev- 
ident to  the  taste  in  the  tincture,  decoction,  and 
distilled  water.  2.  Caoutchouc.  Sulphuric  ether 
dissolves  more  of  the  plant  than  alcohol,  and  ac- 
quires a  higher  colour.  The  solution  in  alcohol 
is  scarcely  rendered  turbid  by  water,  that  in  ether 
is  disturbed  by  alcohol,  and  grows  thick  as  the 
ether  evaporates.  3.  Extractive.  Xo  gummy  or 
astringent  qualities  were  manifested  in  my  exper- 
iments. 

The  great  acrimony  of  the  leaves  and  capsules, 
combined  with  a  narcotic  property,  appears  to  be 
the  foundation  of  then*  medicinal  power.  Dr. 
Cutler  informs  us,  that  if  the  leaves  be  held  for 
some  time  in  the  mouth,  they  produce  giddiness 
and  pain  in  the  head,  with  a  trembling  agitation 
of  the  whole  body,  and  at  length  bring  on  nausea 
and  vomitin.u:.     Tliese    effects    are   analagous   to 


180  LOBELIA  rNFLATA. 

those,  which  the  chewmg  or  smokmg  of  tohacco 
occasions  in  persons  unaccustomed  to  its  use. 

When  swallowed  in  suhstance,  it  excites  very 
speedy  vomiting,  accompanied  with  distressing 
and  long  continued  sickness,  and  even  with  dan- 
gerous symptoms,  if  the  dose  he  large.  A  melan- 
choly instance  of  death,  occasioned  by  the  use  of 
this  plant,  in  the  hands  of  a  quack,  is  detailed  in 
the  sixth  volume  of  the  Massachusetts  Reports,  in 
the  trial  of  Samuel  Thomson,  an  empiric  practising 
in  Beverly,  for  the  murder  of  Ezra  Lovett.  In 
this  trial  it  appeared,  that  the  patient,  being  con- 
fined by  a  cold,  sent  for  the  pretended  physician, 
who  gave  him  three  powders  of  Lobelia  in  the 
course  of  half  an  hour,  each  of  which  vomited  him 
violently,  and  left  him  in  a  great  perspiration 
during  the  night.  The  next  day  two  more  pow- 
ders were  administered,  each  of  which  operated 
by  vomiting  and  occasioned  great  distress.  In 
like  manner  two  other  powders  were  given  the 
subsequent  day,  leaving  the  patient  in  a  state 
of  great  prostration.  Several  days  after  this,  the 
physician  came  again,  and  finding  his  patient 
still  worse,  administered  several  more  powders, 
which  occasioned  great  distress,  and  at  length 
ceased  to  operate.  Finding  that  the  stomach  was 
not  sensible  to  the  emetic  eflfect  of  the  Lobelia, 


INDIAN  TOBACCO.  181 

the  physician  repeated  the  dose,  and  wlien  the  pa- 
tient comphiined  of  great  distress  at  the  hrcast 
and  said  he  was  dying,  the  doctor  assured  liim  the 
medicine  wouhl  soon  get  down,  or  operate  as  a  ca- 
thartic. However,  on  the  same  evening,  the  pa- 
tient lost  his  reason  and  hecame  convulsed,  so  that 
two  men  were  required  to  liold  him.  To  relieve 
which,  the  doctor  forced  down  two  more  of  his 
powders,  and  the  patient,  as  was  to  he  expected, 
grew  worse,  and  continued  so  until  he  expired. 

Tlie  doctor,  who  had  thus  terminated  the  dis- 
ease and  the  patient  at  once,  was  arrested  and  put 
upon  trial  for  murder  ;  but  the  homicide  proving 
a  legitimate  one  from  the  want  of  suflicient  evi- 
dence of  malice  propense,  he  was  acquitted  and 
set  at  liberty. 

From  the  violence  of  its  effects,  and  the  dis- 
tressing nausea  which  it  occasions,  it  is  probable 
that  the  Lobelia  will  never  come  into  use  for  the 
common  purposes  of  an  emetic,  while  other  emet- 
ics can  be  obtained.  It  lias  however  been  found 
to  exert  a  beneficifd  influence  on  particidar  diseas- 
es, and  on  this  account  is  entitled  to  a  place  in 
the  IMatcria  !^Iedica.  Dr.  Cutler,  and  a  number 
of  physicians  in  Essex  county  and  elsewhere,  have 
found  benefit  from  its  use  in  asthma,  some  in  dos- 
es of  a  table  spoonful  of  tlie  saturated  tincture, 


183  LOBELIA  INFLATA. 

others  in  doses  of  a  teaspoonfiil.  Indeed  the  for- 
mer dose  appears  to  be  a  very  large  one,  and 
greater  than  most  stomachs  would  bear  with  im- 
punity. I  have  tried  this  medicine  in  several 
cases  of  asthma  with  some  advantage.  It  has 
not  however  in  general  succeeded  in  affording  re- 
lief of  the  paroxysm,  until  full  vomiting  was  pro- 
duced, which  effect,  with  me,  has  happened  after 
taking  one  or  two  teaspoonfuls. 

A  communication  from  Dr.  Cutler,  on  the  op- 
eration of  this  plant,  is  inserted  in  Dr.  Thacher's 
Dispensatory.  The  venerable  writer  having  him- 
self suffered  from  asthma  for  ten  years,  had,  dur- 
ing the  paroxysms,  resorted  to  many  medicines 
for  relief,  without  experiencing  much  benefit  from 
any.  He  was  at  length  induced  to  make  trial  of 
a  tincture,  prepared  by  himself  from  the  Lobelia 
inflata.  " In  a  paroxysm,"  says  he,  "which  per- 
haps was  as  severe  as  I  had  ever  experienced ; 
the  difficulty  of  breathing  extreme,  and  after  it 
had  continued  for  a  considerable  time,  I  took  a  ta- 
ble spoonful.  In  three  or  four  minutes  my  breath- 
ing was  as  free  as  it  ever  was,  but  I  felt  no  nau- 
sea at  the  stomach.  In  ten  minutes  I  took  anoth- 
er spoonful,  which  occasioned  sickness.  After 
ten  minutes  I  took  a  thu^d,  which  produced  sensi- 
ble effects  upon  the  coats  of  the  stomach,  and  a 


INDIAN  TOBACCO.  183 

very  little  moderate  puking',  and  a  kind  of  prickly 
sensation  through  the  whole  system,  even  to  the 
extremities  of  the  fingers  and  toes.  But  all 
these  sensations  very  soon  suhsided,  and  a  vigour 
seemed  to  he  restored  to  the  constitution,  wliich  I 
had  not  experienced  for  years.  I  have  not  since 
had  a  paroxysm,  and  only  a  few  times  some  small 
symptoms  of  asthma.  Besides  the  violent  at- 
tacks, I  had  scarcely  passed  a  night  without  more 
or  less  of  it,  and  often  so  as  not  to  he  ahle  to  lie  in 
hed.  Since  that  time  I  have  enjoyed  as  good 
health,  as  perhaps  before  the  first  attack." 

Dr.  Cutler  considers  his  disease  to  be  what 
Dr.  Bree  in  his  "  Practical  inquiries  on  disorder- 
ed respiration"  calls  the  first  species,  "  an  asthma 
from  pulmonic  u*ritation  of  effused  serum." 

Dr.  Handall  informs  me,  that  he  has  given  the 
Lobelia  to  many  persons  of  different  ages  suffer- 
ing from  asthma  and  catarrh,  and  with  considera- 
ble variation  in  the  form  and  degree  of  the  dose. 
In  asthma  he  finds  it  as  successful  as  any  article 
he  has  tried.  When  given  in  doses  of  a  drachm 
of  the  saturated  tincture,  and  two  or  three  times 
repeated  at  convenient  intervals  ;  also  in  the  form 
of  other  preparations  of  similar  strength,  he  has 
found  it  usually   to  remove  the   paroxism   in   a 

short   time,    and   to   restore   the   patient   to  qui- 
S4 


184  LOBELIA  INFLATA. 

etude  and  ease.  In  catarrh,  wlien  given  in 
small  doses  and  frequently  repeated,  it  has  op- 
erated as  a  sure  and  speedy  expectorant,  pro- 
ducing effects  in  then*  most  important  character, 
very  similar  to  those  of  antimony  and  squills. 
Dr.  Randall  has  not  observed  any  narcotic  effect 
to  ensue  from  moderate  doses,  nor  found  it  to  pro- 
duce irritation  of  the  coats  of  the  bladder,  as  has 
been  suggested  by  some  practitioners.  In  his 
hands  it  has  not  produced  any  more  vmpleasant 
consequence  than  frequent  nausea,  and  occasional 
emesis,  with  a  copious  flow  from  the  glands  of  the 
mouth. 

Dr.  Bradstreet  of  ^N^ewburyport  acquaints  me, 
that  besides  asthmatic  cases,  he  has  given  the  sat- 
urated tincture  in  two  or  three  instances  of  dys- 
pepsia, also  in  some  cases  of  a  rheumatic  nature 
with  beneficial  consequences. 

He  considers  its  sensible  effects  to  be  very 
like  those  of  common  tobacco,  but  its  medicinal 
action  more  speedy  and  diffusible,  and  of  shorter 
duration.  He  thinks  that  it  affects  those  accus- 
tomed to  the  use  of  tobacco  as  readily  as  others. 

The  Lobelia  has  been  recommended  as  a  rem- 
edy in  hooping  cough  and  croup.  In  the  former 
of  these  complaints,  I  can  say  notliing  of  its  use 
from  experience,  but  in  the  latter  disease  I  am 


INDIAN  TOBACCO.  185 

persuaded,  it  affords  no  benefit,  having  seen  it 
largely  tried  by  different  practitioners  in  a  number 
of  ftital  cases,  where  it  only  produced  a  distress- 
ing nausea,  without,  in  any  degree,  facilitating  the 
respiration,  or  relieving  the  disease. 

The  active  properties  of  the  Lobelia  are  readi- 
ly extracted  both  by  water  and  alcohol.  The  tinc- 
ture however  is  most  easily  kept,  and  is  the  most 
convenient  form  for  exhibition.  The  Essex  dis- 
trict medical  society  have  recommended  a  formu- 
la for  this  composition,  which  directs  two  ounces 
of  the  dried  plant  to  be  digested  in  a  pint  of  di- 
luted alcohol.  Of  this  tincture,  a  teaspoonful  giv- 
en to  an  adult,  will  generally  produce  nausea,  and 
sometimes  vomiting.  In  certain  instances  how- 
ever, much  larger  doses  have  been  given,  without 
producing  any  other  effect  than  a  flow  of  saliva. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Lobelia  inflata,  Lin.  Sp.  pi. — Act.  Upsal.  1741,  p.  23,  t.  1. — 
Gronovius,  Virg.  134. — Willd.  *Sp.  ;j^  i.  946. — Michaux,  ii. 
142. — PuRSH,  ii.  448. 


mi;dical  references. 

Cutler,  Mem.  Jimer.  Jlcad.  i.  484. — Sch(epf,  128. — Bart. 
CoU  36,  56. — Thacker,  Disp,  267. — Massachusetts  Reports, 
vd,  vi. 


186  LOBELIA  INFLATA. 


PLATE  XIX. 

Fig.  1.  Lobelia  injlata. 

Fig.  2.  Corolla  with  the  stamens  projecting  from  the  cleft  in  the 
upper  side. 

Fig.  3.  Capsule  cut  across. 


'  fft/tf/ffflt'^  f'fff' 


SOLIDAGO  ODORA. 


Sweet  scented  Golden  rod. 

PLATE  XX. 

JN  0  part  of  vegetation  in  the  United  States  is 
so  conspicuous  and  gaudy  in  the  autumnal  months, 
and  at  the  same  time  furnishes  to  the  botanist  so 
difficult  a  task  of  discrimination,  as  the  multitu- 
dinous and  Protean  genera  Solidago  and  Aster. 
Each  of  these  genera  contains  many  well  defined 
species,  sufficiently  marked  by  their  external 
chai'acters,  sensible  qualities,  habits  and  places  of 
growth.  But  between  them,  is  a  great  multitude 
of  subspecies,  liable  to  variation  from  external 
circumstances,  changing  their  appearance  with 
their  places  of  growth,  and  running  together  by 
so  many  points  of  resemblance,  that  it  is  a  labour 
yet  remaining  for  botanists  to  separate  tliose 
species  which  are  in  nature  distinct,  from  those 
which  are  varieties  only. 


188  SOLIDAGO   ODORA. 

The  genus  Solidago  is  characterized  by  a  na- 
ked receptacle,  the  down  simple,  rays  oj^the  corolla 
about  five,  scales  of  the  calyw  imbricated  and  close. 
It  is  a  very  natural  genus,  easily  distinguished  at 
sight  by  its  crowded  tufts  of  compound  flowers, 
wliich  are  almost  always  of  a  deep  golden  yellow.* 

The  species  odora  has  its  stem  nearly  smooth, 
leaves  linear-lanceolate,  entire,  smooth,  with  a 
rough  margin,  and  covered  with  pellucid  dots» 
Racemes  panicled,  one  sided. 

Class  Syngenesia, — Order  Superfiua, — Natural 
orders  Compositce,  hm.     Corymbiferw,Juss. 

The  sweet  scented  Golden  rod  grows  in  woods 
and  fields  tliroughout  the  United  States,  and  flow- 
ers in  September.  It  has  a  smooth  appearance, 
and  is  among  tlie  smaller  species  of  its  family. 
The  root  is  woody,  much  branched  and  creeping. 
Stem  slender,  from  two  to  three  feet  high,  smooth 
or  slightly  pubescent  below,  pubescent  at  top. 
The  leaves  are  linear-lanceolate,  closely  sessile, 
broad  at  l)ase,  entire,  acute,  with  only  the  midrib 
distinct,  rough  at  the  margin  but  otlierwise 
smooth,  and  covered  with  pellucid  dots,  like  Hy- 
pericum perforatum.  The  flowers  grow  in  a  com- 
pound, panicled  raceme,  with  each  of  its  branches 

*  The  only  exception  which  I  now  recollect  is  Solidago  bicolor, 
whose  rav  is  white. 


SWEET  SCENTED  GOLDEN  ROD.       189 

supported  by  a  small  leaf.  These  branches  or 
peduncles  are  very  slender  and  rigid,  each  giving 
off  a  row  of  ascending,  downy  pedicels,  with  small, 
linear  bractes  at  then-  bases.  Scales  of  the  calyx 
ublong,  acute,  smooth,  or  slightly  pubescent,  the 
lower  ones  sliorter  and  closely  imbricating  the 
rest.  Florets  of  the  ray  few,  with  oblong,  obtuse, 
ligules.  Those  of  the  disc  funnel  shaped,  with 
acute  segments.  Down  simple  to  the  naked  eye, 
feathery  under  the  microscope.     Seeds  oblong. 

This  plant  is  the  Solidago  odora  of  Muhlen- 
berg, and  agrees  with  the  character  of  Aiton. 
The  Solidago  odora  of  Michaux  is  possibly  a  differ- 
ent species.  Willdenow's  plant  was  undoubtedly 
different.  The  folia  puncticulosa,  which  consti- 
tutes so  distinct  a  mark  in  this  species,  I  have 
not  seen  noticed  by  any  botanist. 

The  leaves  of  the  Solidas-o  odora  have  a  deliw-ht- 
fully  fragrant  odour,  partaking  of  that  of  anise  and 
sassafras,  but  different  from  either.  When  sub- 
jected to  distillation,  a  volatile  oil,  possessing  the 
taste  and  ai'oma  of  the  plant  in  a  liigli  degree,  col- 
lects in  the  receiver.  This  oil  apparently  has  its 
residence  in  the  transparent  cells,  which  consti- 
tute the  dotting  of  the  leaves,  for  the  root  is  whol- 
ly destitute  of  tlic  peculiar  fragrance  of  the  herb, 
and  has  rather  a  nauseous  taste.     This  is  contra- 


190  SOLIDAGO   ODORA. 

ry  to  the  remark  of  Willdenow,  who  informs  us  that 
the  root  is  the  fragrant  part  possessing  the  scent 
of  Geum  m*banum. 

As  the  volatile  oil  appears  to  possess  all  the 
medicinal  value  of  this  plant,  I  have  not  prosecut- 
ed its  chemical  investigation  any  farther. 

The  claims  of  the  Solidago  to  stand  as  an  ai'- 
ticle  of  the  Materia  Medic  a  are  of  a  humble,  but 
not  despicable-  kind.  We  import  and  consume 
many  foreign  drugs  which  possess  no  virtue  be- 
yond that  of  being  aromatic,  pleasant  to  the  taste, 
gently  stimulant,  diaphoretic  and  carminative. 
All  these  properties  the  Golden  rod  seems  fully  to 
possess.  An  essence  made  by  dissolving  the  es- 
sential oil  in  proof  spirit,  is  used  in  the  eastern 
states  as  a  remedy  in  complaints,  arising  from  flat- 
ulence, and  as  a  vehicle  for  unpleasant  medicines 
of  various  kinds.  I  have  employed  it  to  allay 
vomiting,  and  to  relieve  spasmodic  pains  in  the 
stomach  of  the  milder  kind,  with  satisfactory  suc- 
cess. From  its  pleasant  flavour,  it  serves  to  cover 
the  taste  of  laudanum,  castor  oil,  and  other  med- 
icines, whose  disagreeable  taste  causes  them  to 
be  rejected  by  delicate  and  irritable  stomachs. 

Mr.  Pursh  informs  us,  that  this  plant  when 
dried,  is  used  in  some  parts  of  the  United  States  as 
an  agreeable  substitute  for  tea.     He  further  states, 


GOLDEN  ROD.  191 

that  it  has  for  some  time  been  an  article  of  ex- 
portation to  China,  where  it  fetches  a  high  price. 

-   .  BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Solidago  odora,  Aiton,  Hort  JCew.  iii.  214. — Pursh,  ii.  539. 
— Virga  Aurea  Americana.  Tarraconis  facie  et  sapore,  panicii- 
la  speciosissima  ?  Plukenet,  Jim.  389,  t.  116,/.  6. 

PLATE  XX. 

Fig.  1.  Solida  odora. 
Fig.  2.  AJioxcer  magnified. 
Fig.  3.  AJloret  of  the  ray. 
Fig.  4.  Jljloretojthe  disc. 


NOTES. 


JS'ote  A, 

JMosT  European  writers  seem  to  consider  the  Datura  stra- 
monium as  a  native  of  America.  In  Miller's  Dictionary  by 
Martyn,  the  editor  says,  "  That  it  is  a  native  of  Ameiica,  we 
have  the  most  undoubted  proofs,  for  in  earth  brought  with 
plants  from  various  parts  of  that  extensive  country,  we  are  sure 
to  have  the  Thorn  apple  come  up.  Kalm  says,  that  it  grows 
about  all  the  villages,  and  tliat  this  and  the  Phytolacca  are  the 
worst  weeds  there.  Our  old  writers  call  it  Thorny  Apples  of 
Peru." 

Tliis  evidence  however  is  by  no  means  sufficient.  The  plant 
appears  in  eartli  and  ballast,  carried  from  cither  continent  alike. 
The  name  Apple  of  Peru  has  also  been  applied  to  Datura  metel, 
a  plant  of  Africa  and  the  East  Indies. 

^ote  B. 

In  the  Catalogue  of  plants  in  the  Botanic  garden  at  Calcutta, 
published  in  1814,  a  species  is  inserted  by  the  name  of  Datura 
Tatula,  said  to  be  a  native  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.     This  is 
.jprobably  different  from  the  Datura  Tatula  of  Linnseus. 

JVofe  C. 

*'  The  Jamestown  weed,  (which  resembles  the  thorny  apples  of 
Peru,  and  I  take  it  to  be  the  plant  so  calied,)  is  supposed  to  be 
one  of  the  greatest  coolers  in  the  world.  This  being  an  early 
plant,  was  gathered  very  young  for  a  boiled  sallad,  by  some  of 
the  soldiers  sent  thither  to  quell  tlie  rebellion  of  Bacon  ;  and 
some  of  them  ate  plentifully  of  it,  the  effect  of  which  was  a  very 


NOTES.  193 


1 


pleasant  comedy,  for  tliey  turned  natural  fools  upon  it  for  several 
days.  One  would  blow  up  a  feather  in  the  air,  another  would 
dart  straw  s  at  it  with  much  fury ;  another  stark  naked  was  sit- 
ting up  in  a  corner  like  a  monkey,  grinning,  and  making  mows 
at  them ;  a  fourth  would'  fondly  kiss  and  paw  his  companions, 
and  sneer  in  their  faces  with  a  countenance  more  antic,  than  any 
in  a  Dutch  droll.  In  this  frantic  condition  they  were  confined, 
lest,  in  their  folly,  they  should  destroy  themselves.  A  thousand 
simple  tricks  they  played,  and  after  eleven  days  returned  to 
themselves  again,  not  remembering  any  thing  that  had  passed." 

Beverhfs  Uistorij  of  Virgiiiiaf  p.  121. 

Xote  J). 

«  De  Cuechyliztomatl,  seu  Tomatl  sonalis. 

Genus  est  Solani  Tonchichi  forma  et  viribus  simile,  sed 
foliis  paulispcr  undulatis,  et  fructu  acinoso  raceraatim(iuc  depen- 
dente,  &c."     HernandcXf  ii.  12. 

J^Tote  E, 

"  I  am  heartily  glad  to  hear  more  instances  of  the  success  of 
the  Poke  weed  in  the  cure  of  cancer.  You  will  desei-ve  highly  of 
mankind  for  the  communication.  But  I  find  in  Boston  they  are 
at  a  loss  to  know  the  right  plant,  some  asserting  it  is  what  they 
call  J^Iechoacan,  others  other  things.  In  one  of  their  late  pa- 
pers it  is  publicly  requested  that  a  perfect  decription  may  be  giv- 
en of  the  plant,  its  places  of  growth,  &c.  I  have  mislaid  the  pa- 
l)er,  or  would  send  it  to  you.  I  thought  you  had  describx^d  it 
pretty  fully."     Letter  from  Br.  Franklin  to  Dr.  Coldeiu 

"  I  apprehend  that  our  poke- weed  is  what  botanists  term 
Phytolacca.  This  plant  bears  berries  as  large  as  peas.  The 
skin  is  black,  but  it  contains  a  crimson  juice.  It  is  this  juice 
thickened  by  evaporation  in  the  sun  which  was  employed.  It 
caused  great  pain,  but  some  persons  were  said  to  have  been 
cured.    I  am  not  quite  certain  of  the  facts  j  all  that  I  know  is 


f 


194*  NOTES. 


that  Dr.  Colden  had  a  good  opinion  of  the  remedy."    Letter 
from  Br.  Franklin  to  M.  Duhmirg, 

JS^Ote  F. 

Linnseus,  in  his  Flora  Laponica,  tells  us  that  the  roots  of 
Calla palustriSf  although  acrid  and  caustic  in  the  highest  degree, 
fignis  Jirme  instarfj  are  made  into  a  kind  of  bread  in  high  esti- 
mation, called  Missebrotd.  This  is  performed  by  drying  and 
grinding  the  roots,  afterwards  boiling  and  macerating  them  un- 
til they  are  deprived  of  acrimony,  when  they  are  baked  like  other 
farinaceous  substances  into  bread. 

The  recent  juice  of  the  Jatropha  manihoty  or  Cassava  tree  of 
the  West  Indies,  is  highly  poisonous.  The  deleterious  princi- 
ple however  resides  in  a  volatile  portion,  which  is  dissipated  by 
heat.  The  remaining  substance  of  the  root  is  used  by  the  in- 
habitants for  bread,  as  a  material  for  a  kind  of  soup,  and  as  the 
basis  of  a  fermented  liquor. 

JVofe  G. 

The  following  is  Ksempfei^'s  description  taken  from  his  Amoe- 
nitates  Exoticee,  p.  791.  His  accompanying  figure  resembles  the 
American  Rhus  vernix,  except,  that  the  end  of  the  branch  and 
bud  are  larger  in  proportion  than  with  us. 

<'  iSite,  vel.  Sitzidsju,  i.  e.  Sitz  planta,  vulgo  Urus  seu  Urus  no 
Mf  Arbor  vernicifera  legitima,  folio  pinnato  Juglandis,  fructu 
racemoso  ciceris  facie. 

"  Arbor  paucis  ramis  brachiata,  salicis  ad  altitudinem  luxuri- 
ose  exsurgit.  Cortice  donatur  incano,  ex  verruculis  scabro,  facile 
abscedente;  ligno  saligneo  fragillimo  j  medulla  copiosa,  ligno 
adnata ;  Surculis  longis  crassis  in  extremitate  inordinate  foliosis. 
Folium  est  impariter  pennatum,  spithamale  vel  longius,  Juglandis 
folio  semulum,  costa  tereti,  leviter  lanuginosa ;  quam  a  semipal- 
mari  nuditate  stipant  lobi  sive  folia  simplicia,  pediculo  perbrevi 
nixa,  tenuia,  plana,  ovata,  triiun  vel  quatuor  unciarum  longitu- 


NOTES.  195 

dinis,  basi  insequaliter  rotunda,  mucrone  brcvi  angusto,  margine 
integro,  suprema  facie  obscure  viridi,  Isevi,  et  ex  nervis  lacunosa, 
dorso  incano  et  molliter  lanuginoso.  Nervus  inedius  in  muci-o- 
riein  terminans  subinde  midtos  a  latere  dcmittit  nervos  minores, 
eitra  marginem  deficientes.  Sapor  folio  sylvestris  inest,  cum 
sensibili  calorc ;  humor  aifrictus  extemplo  chaitam  ferrugineo 
colore  imbuit.  In  surculis  quibusdam  ex  foliorum  axillis  sin- 
gull  surgunt  Racemi  laxe  ramosi,  palmares,  tenues,  qui,  petiolis 
in  calyculos  rotundos  desinentibus,  Floscnlos  continent  pumilos, 
et  citra  Coriandri  seminis  niagnitudinem  radiantes,  in  luteum 
herbaceos,  pentapetalos,  petalis  carnosis  nonnibil  oblongis  et 
repandis ;  staminibus  ad  petalorum  interstitia  singulis,  apicatis, 
bre\issimis,  stylo  perbrevi  tricipite,  floris  turbini  insidente, 
Ordorem  spirant  dulcem,  Aurantio  flori  affinem  et  pergratum. 
Fnidus  flosculum  excipit  gibbosus,  utcumque  in  rhomboidis  figu- 
rara  compressus,  bifidus,  facie  ac  magnitudine  ciceris,  niem- 
branula  tenui  micante  vestitus,  per  niaturitatem  durissimus  ct 
obsoleti  coloris. 

*<  Cortex  arborls  cultro  crenatus  lacteum  fundit  lentorem, 
humore  crystallino  (ex  aliis  ductibus  stillante)  permixtum,  qui 
ad  aeris  contactum  nigrescit.  Eundera  surculi  divulsi,  foliorum 
pediculi,  et  nervi  produnt,  nuUius  gustabilis  qualitatis  partici- 
pem,  nisi  califacientis  sine  acredine.  Vencnatos  tamen  spiritus 
lisec  arbor  exhalare  dicitur,  vehementcs  adeo,  ut  pucris  circa 
candem  commorantibus  exanthemata  in  corpore  pariant :  qualia 
etiam  lignum  tractantes  alii  (non  oranes)  experiuntur.  CoUectio 
TJrusj,  sive  Vernicis,  ut  instituatur,  caudices  prsecipue  triennes, 
paucis  crenis  vulncrandse  sunt,  ex  quibus  stillans  liquor  subinde 
cxcipitur,  itcrata  in  recente  loco  sectione,  donee  cxsucci  marccs- 
cant.  Emulsi  atque  omni  succo  orbati,  illico  amputandi  sunt ; 
sic  nova  e  radice  provenit  soboles,  qu»,  triennis  facta,  collectioni 
denuo  subjicitur/'         #         *         * 

*'  Vernix  nativa  vix  pr jeparationc  indigct.  Japonica  per  dupli- 
catam  chartam  subtilissimam,  tcke  arancarum  pcne  siinilcm,  et 


196  NOTES. 

earn  in  rem  singulariter  constructam  docta  ey%e<^j)5-/  torqueii 
solet,  ut  a  particiilis  heterogeneis  et  crassioribus  mundeturj 
inundate  pauxillum  admiscetur  (centissiina  fere  pars)  olei  Toi 
dicti  ex  fructu  arboris  Ktn.  Sic  vasibus  ligneis  indita  per  Japo- 
niam  venalis  transvehitur." 

J>rot€  H. 

The  following  account  of  the  death  of  Socrates  is  translated 
from  the  Phcedon  of  Plato. 

And  Crito  hearing  this  gave  the  sign  to  the  boy  who  stood 
near.  And  the  boy  departing  after  some  time  returned  bringing 
with  him  the  man,  who  was  to  administer  the  poison,  who 
brought  it  ready  bruised  in  a  cup.  And  Socrates  beholding  the 
man,  said,  *<  Good  friend,  come  hither,  you  are  experienced  in 
these  affairs, — What  is  to  be  done  ?"  *•  Nothing,"  replied  the 
man,  "  only  when  you  have  drank  the  poison,  you  are  to  walk 
about  until  a  heaviness  takes  place  in  your  legs.  Then  lie  down. 
This  is  all  you  have  to  do."  At  the  same  time  he  presented  him 
the  cup.  Socrates  received  it  from  him  with  great  calmness, 
without  fear  or  change  of  countenance,  and  regarding  the  man 
with  liis  usual  stern  aspect,  he  asked,  "  What  say  you  of  this 
potion  ?  Is  it  lawful  to  sprinkle  any  poi'tion  of  it  on  the  earth 
as  a  libation,  or  not  ?"  "  We  only  bruise,"  said  the  man,  *•  as 
much  as  is  barely  sufficient  for  the  purpose."  "I  undei stand 
you,"  said  Socrates,  «<  but  it  is  certainly  lawful  and  proper  to 
pray  the  gods  that  my  departure  from  hence  may  be  prosperous 
and  happy,  which  I  indeed  beseech  them  to  grant."  So  saying, 
he  carried  the  cup  to  his  mouth  and  drank  it  with  great  prompt- 
ness and  facility. 

Thus  far  most  of  us  had  been  able  to  refrain  from  weeping. 
But  when  we  saw  that  he  was  drinking  and  actually  had  drunk 
the  poison,  we  could  no  longer  restrain  our  tears.  And  from  me 
they  broke  forth  with  such  violence,  that  I  covered  my  face  and 
deplored  my  wretchedness.  I  did  not  weep  for  his  fate,  so  much. 


NOTES.  197 

as  for  the  loss  of  a  friend  and  benefactor,  which  I  was  about  to 
sustain.  But  Crito  unable  to  restrain  his  tears  was  compelled 
to  rise.  And  Apollodorus,  who  had  been  incessantly  weeping, 
now  broke  forth  into  loud  lamentations,  which  infected  all  who 
were  present  except  Socrates.  But,  he  observing  us,  exclaimed, 
<«  W  hat  is  it  you  do,  my  excellent  friends  ?  I  have  sent  away  the 
women  that  they  might  not  betray  such  weakness.  I  have  heard 
that  it  is  our  duty  to  die  cheerfully  and  with  expressions  of  joy 
and  praise.  Be  silent  therefore,  and  let  your  fortitude  be  seen." 
At  this  address  we  blushed  and  suppressed  our  tears.  But  So- 
crates, after  walking  about,  now  told  us  that  his  legs  were  begin- 
ning to  grow  heavy,  and  immediately  laid  down,  for  so  he  had 
been  ordered.  At  the  same  time  the  man  who  had  given  him 
the  poison,  examined  his  feet  and  legs,  touching  them  at  inter- 
vals. At  length  he  pressed  violently  upon  his  foot,  and  asked 
if  he  felt  it.  To  which  Socrates  replied,  that  he  did  not. 
The  man  then  pressed  his  legs  and  so  on,  shewing  us  that  he 
was  becoming  cold  and  stiff.  And  Socrates  feeling  of  himself 
assured  us,  that  when  the  effects  had  ascended  to  his  heart  he 
should  then  be  gone.  And  now  the  middle  of  his  body  growing 
cold^je  threw  aside  his  clothes  and  spoke  for  the  last  time, 
«  Crito,  we  owe  the  sacrifice  of  a  cock  to  ^sculapius.  Dis- 
charge tliis  and  neglect  it  not."  «  It  shall  be  done,  said  Crito  ; 
have  you  any  thing  else  to  say  ?"  He  made  no  reply,  but  a  mo- 
ment after  moved,  and  his  eyes  became  fixed.  And  Crito  seeing 
this,  closed  his  eyelids  and  mouth. 


CONTENTS  OF  THE  FIRST  VOLUME, 


Datura  stramoniumf 

Thorn  apple. 

page  17 

Eupatorium  perfoliaUimf 

Thorough  wort. 

33 

Phytolacca  decandra, 

Poke, 

39 

Arum  triphyllumf 

Dragon  root, 

52 

Coptis  trifoliOf 

Gold  thread. 

60 

Arlnitus  uva  ursi. 

Bearherry, 

66 

Sanguinaria  canadensiSf 

Blood  root. 

73 

Geranium  maculatum, 

Craneshill, 

84 

Tnosteum  perfoliatum, 

Fever  root. 

90 

Hhux  vemix. 

Poison  sumach. 

96 

Conium  maculatum, 

Hemlock, 

113 

Ciciita  maciilata, 

American  hemlock. 

^125 

Kalmia  latifoliaf 

Mountain  laurel. 

133 

Spigelia  marilandica, 

Carolina  pinkroot. 

142 

Asarum  canadense. 

Wild  Ginger, 

149 

Iris  versicolor. 

^  Blue  flag. 

155 

Hyoscyamus  niger. 

Henhane, 

161 

Solanum  didcamara, 

Bitter  sweet. 

169 

Lobelia  i7ijlata, 

-  Indian  tobacco, 

177 

Solidago  odora, 

Sweet  scented  Golden  rod,     187 

JVotes^ 

192 

w